The apples of the Hesperides

At the end of the world, where the sun reigns, there was the most beautiful orchard in the world. In this orchard grew the most beautiful and rare plants. However, the most impressive of all was an apple tree that made golden apples.

The whole world coveted these apples, but the orchard belonged to the Hesperides and was guarded by a fierce dragon. No one dared approach, for they did not know exactly where it was.

Eurystheus, however, ordered Heracles to go and fetch some of these golden apples.

Hercules and Prometheus

The hero set off to the west, asking anyone who accompanied him. Crossing countries and villages, he asked thousands of people, but he could not learn anything, because no one knew the secret of the enclosure.Once he reached the Caucasus, where he found Prometheus chained to a rock and an eagle eating his liver. Zeus had punished him for stealing the fire from Olympus and giving it to the people. Hercules killed the eagle and freed Prometheus. Prometheus, however, sent him to his brother, Atlas, because he knew where the apples were.

Hercules and Antaeus

Hercules started his journey again. However, at one point he met another giant, Antaeus. Antaeus, whenever someone passed by his place, would call out to him to fight and he would defeat him. But as soon as he grew tired, he would fall to the earth and regain new strength. Hercules, however, lifted him into the air and kept him there until he surrendered.

Hercules and Atlas

Finally, he once arrived at the place where Atlas was. And he found him holding the sky on his back. He told him what he wanted and the giant willingly agreed to bring him the golden apples. For only he knew how to put the dragon to sleep. He only asked him to hold the sky and Hercules took him on his back.