|
Historiae Romanorum
|
The Apples of the HesperidesAs the eleventh labor, Eurystheus ordered Heracles to retrieve some golden apples from the Hesperides. These apples were located near Mt. Atlas in the land of the Hyperboreans, a mystical people of unknown location. They were given to Zeus by Gaia at the time of his marriage to Hera. Aside from the Hesperides, the golden apples were also guarded by Ladon, a fierce dragon. Heracles' first task was to find the location of the apples. With the help of some nymphs, he located Nereus. Heracles bound him and refused to let him go, until Nereus told him where to find the apples. Once he found out, he began an easterly rout (Libya to Egypt to Asia to Arabia to the Caucasus) towards the Hesperides. In Libya, Heracles encountered Antaios. This king compelled every man, who entered his kingdom, to wrestle. Antaios would never lose, because he became stronger every time he touched the ground. Knowing this, Heracles picked up the man and crushed him to death in the air. In the Caucasus, Heracles encountered Prometheus, still being tortured for defying Zeus. He shot the eagle, which daily devoured his liver. Then, he set Prometheus free. In exchange, he presented Cheiron to Zeus. As thanks, Prometheus gave Heracles advice on how to best obtain some golden apples. When he reached Mt. Atlas, following the advice of Prometheus, Heracles went to Atlas for help. While Heracles held the sky, Atlas took three apples from the Hesperides. At last free of his burden, when Atlas returned he said that he would take the apples to Eurystheus for him. Realizing what Atlas would try to do, Heracles asked him to hold the world for a second, so that he could make a pad for his shoulders. When Atlas reassumed his burden, Heracles abandoned him. When he took back the apples to Eurystheus, the king gave them back to Heracles. Thinking it unjust for them to remain in Greece, Athena then carried them back to the Hesperides. Source(s):
|
|
This page was last updated on July 21, 2004. |