Brewer's: Lerna

A Lerna of ills (malorum Lerna). A very great evil. Lake Lerna is where Hercules destroyed the hydra which did incalculable evil to Argos.

“Spain was a Lerna of ills to all Europe while it aspired to universal monarchy” —P.Motteaux: Preface to Rabelais.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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