Golden Apples of the Hesperides

The eleventh of Heracles' Twelve Labors

© Robin Fowler

In order to get the enchanted apples from Hera's garden, Heracles has to trick a titan.

Heracles was ordered by Eurystheus to steal the Golden Apples of the Hesperides for his eleventh labor. The Golden Apples were located in a garden that had been given as a gift to Hera by Gaia when she married Zeus. These apples gave immortality to those who ate them. Taking care of the orchard (and sometimes taking a few apples for themselves) were nymphs known as the Hesperides.

Heracles made his way to Hera's garden to fulfill his task. In order to steal the apples out from Hera's nose, Heracles tricked Atlas (who was the father of the Hesperides) into letting him hold up the heavens while he went and got the apples for the hero. When Atlas returned with them, he decided that he rather enjoyed being free of his burden, and offered to take the apples to Eurystheus himself. Heracles slyly agreed, but only if Atlas would take the heavens momentarily in order to let Heracles adjust his cloak. When Atlas did so, Heracles took the apples and ran.


The copyright of the article Golden Apples of the Hesperides in Ancient History is owned by Robin Fowler. Permission to republish Golden Apples of the Hesperides must be granted by the author in writing.




Post this Article to facebook Add this Article to del.icio.us! Digg this Article furl this Article Add this Article to Reddit Add this Article to Technorati Add this Article to Newsvine Add this Article to Windows Live Add this Article to Yahoo Add this Article to StumbleUpon Add this Article to BlinkLists Add this Article to Spurl Add this Article to Google Add this Article to Ask Add this Article to Squidoo