Heracles and the Apples, 3rd-century AD Roman mosaic in the M.A.N. of Madrid.
TheApples of the Hesperides were golden apples inGreek mythology, kept in a garden at the far western edge of the world. According to myth, the apples were a wedding gift fromGaia toHera, and they were said to grantimmortality. The apples were closely guarded by theHesperides, nymphs of the evening, and the serpent-dragonLadon. The apples were the object ofHeracles' Eleventh Labour, in which he was tasked with retrieving them for KingEurystheus.
The Apples of the Hesperides were kept in an orchard known as theGarden of the Hesperides. According toHesiod'sTheogony, Gaia presented the apples to Hera as a gift upon her marriage toZeus.[1] The goddessHera planted them in a divine garden located at the westernmost point of the world near theAtlas mountain range, which in ancient times was identified with the westernmost part ofLibya (nowNorth Africa),Morocco.[2]
The garden was watched over by theHesperides, daughters of eitherNyx (Night) or the TitanAtlas, depending on the source. Additionally, the apples were protected by the serpent-dragonLadon, who prevented anyone from stealing them.[3]
The most famous myth associated with the Apples of the Hesperides is the Eleventh Labour ofHeracles. KingEurystheus ordered Heracles to retrieve the apples as part of his Twelve Labours.
There are two major versions of how Heracles completed this task:
The Atlas Version: In this account, Heracles sought guidance from the TitanPrometheus, whom he freed from his punishment byZeus. Prometheus advised him to ask Atlas for help. In exchange for fetching the apples, Atlas asked Heracles to temporarily hold up the sky. Atlas then retrieved the apples but refused to take back his burden. Heracles tricked him by pretending to adjust his position, at which point Atlas reassumed his burden, allowing Heracles to escape with the apples.[3]
The Direct Theft Version: In some versions, Heracles directly entered the garden, either by killing Ladon or by using trickery, and stole the apples himself.[4]
After completing the labour, Heracles brought the apples to Eurystheus. However, in many versions of the myth, the apples were ultimately returned to the gods, as they belonged to Hera.[5]
While the Apples of the Hesperides are primarily associated with Heracles, similar golden apples appear elsewhere in Greek mythology:
Atalanta's Race: The story ofAtalanta involves golden apples given toHippomenes byAphrodite, which he used to distract Atalanta during a race, allowing him to win her hand in marriage.[6]
The Apple of Discord: TheApple of Discord, which played a key role in the events leading to theTrojan War, is sometimes confused with the Apples of the Hesperides. However, this apple was thrown byEris, the goddess of strife, at the wedding ofPeleus andThetis.[7]
The golden apples have been interpreted as symbols of:
Immortality – The apples are often connected to divine foods such asambrosia andnectar, which confer eternal life.[2]
A Western Paradise – Some scholars, includingWalter Burkert, suggest that the Garden of the Hesperides reflects ancient Greek notions of a utopian paradise located at the far west of the world, akin toElysium.[2]
The Hero’s Ultimate Test – The Eleventh Labor represents a final challenge before Heracles’ apotheosis (deification).[8]
