Hesperides
| The Hesperides are nymphs who live in a
beautiful garden, situated in the Arcadian Mountains (Greece) or,
alternatively, at the western extreme of the Mediterranean, near Mt. Atlas
(hence they are sometimes considered daughters of Atlas). In this garden
grows the tree with the golden apples which Gaia had given as a present to
Hera on her wedding to Zeus. This garden is guarded by Ladon, a dragon
with a hundred heads. The only one who succeeded in obtaining some of the
apples was Heracles, who tricked Atlas to get them for him. Thus Heracles
completed the eleventh of his Twelve Labors.
The Hesperides are Aegle, Arethusa, Erytheia and Hesperia. They are also called The African Sisters. |
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