Serpent (symbolism) Typhon is thus the chthonic figuration of volcanic forces. Serpent elements figure among his offspring; among his children by Echidna are: Cerberus (a monstrous three-headed dog with a snake for a tail and a serpentine mane); the serpent-tailed Chimaera; the serpent-like chthonic water beast Lernaean Hydra; and the hundred-headed serpentine dragon Ladon. Both the Lernaean Hydra and Ladon were slain by Heracles. Python was the earth-dragon of Delphi, she always was represented in the vase-paintings and by sculptors as a serpent. Pytho was the chthonic enemy of Apollo, who slew her and remade her former home his own oracle, the
Serpent Lord serpent"), while plainly referring to the standard, is sometimes understood by some fans to also refer to the leader of the Haradrim himself. Tolkien only calls the leader a "chieftain". Thus the title is not considered canonical by many fans. This alternative interpretation may be justified because Théoden may not have been proud of having killed the banner-bearer so much as having killed the enemy leader himself. Another interpretation has Théoden speaking figuratively; by "felling the black serpent", he not only cut down the black serpent standard but defeated the horsemen of Harad, at least temporarily. In Games Workshop's game,