Apples of the Hesperides / Myth. Short summary

5 seconds

King Eurystheus sent Heracles to the edge of the world to get the golden apples. This task was the last feat of the mighty hero. By completing it, the demigod was freed from the power of the cowardly ruler.

1 minute

At the edge of the world was the garden of the nymphs of Hesperides. Here the mighty titan Atlantus, father of the girls, held up the vault of heaven. The chief treasure of the beautiful orchard was the apple tree with the golden apples. Many tried to get hold of the cherished fruit, but only Zeus’ son Heracles succeeded.

King Eurystheus ordered the hero to bring the golden apples. The difficulty of this last task was that none of the mortal men knew where the garden was. Heracles had to travel through many countries in search of the way to the Hesperides. The demigod was helped by the prophetic elder Nereus, who showed him the way to the ends of the earth.

Only Atlantus could pick apples from the tree. The mighty titan fulfilled the visitor’s request, while the latter held up the vault of heaven instead of the giant. Heracles safely delivered the apples to Eurystheus, who gave them to the hero as a token of the completion of his service. The son of Zeus, in turn, gave the fruit to Athena, who returned it to the Hesperides.