The Hesperides were nymphs who guarded a garden of golden apples in Greek mythology. Their number and names vary in different stories, and they were guarded by a dragon named Ladon. Hercules stole some of the apples as one of his tasks. The garden is a common theme in many cultures, and the apples grant immortality.
The Hesperides were a group of nymphs who guarded a garden at the western end of the world in Greek mythology. As with many characters in Greek mythology, the story of the Hesperides is told in different ways in different texts; they are depicted as children of different sets of parents, for example, and their group grows and shrinks in size according to the tale. Most stories generally seem to agree that the Hesperides were put in place to guard special golden apples given by Gaea as a wedding present to Hera, and the father of the Hesperides is usually said to be Atlas.
The number of the Hesperides is often said to be three, mimicking the stories of the Three Graces and other triads in various mythological traditions. Their number rarely exceeds seven in Greek myths, and in most stories the Hesperides remain nameless. In others, names such as Arethusa, Aegle, Liupra and Hespera are given. The women are also known as the Western Maidens or Evening Daughters, referring to their location in the west.
According to the stories, the women look after a fantastic garden that looks almost like a paradise. Golden apple trees are the main feature of the garden, but other magical or beautiful plants are often described in tales of the Hesperides. The garden is also home to a dragon named Ladon, who would have been installed in the garden to ensure that the Hesperides would not give in to temptation and pick Hera’s apple trees. The Hesperides also enjoyed singing and making music for entertainment.
People familiar with the myths about Hercules may be familiar with the Hesperides, as stealing some of their apples was one of the tasks Hercules had to complete. According to most stories, Hercules tricked Atlas into stealing apples for him, and in some tales he even killed the dragon Ladon. However, when he returned with the apples, no one knew quite what to do with them, and finally Hercules gave them to Athena, who took them back to the garden.
Tales like that of the Hesperides are found in many cultures, suggesting that many human societies have a vision of a paradise guarded by attractive and talented women. The apples in the garden of the Hesperides are said to grant immortality, another common theme in mythology; many people like the idea that a magical fruit with the gift of life exists somewhere, even if they can’t access it.
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