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Tasks of Heracles. Again though there are differing versions of how the Eleventh task was undertaken. The Eleventh Task of Heracles was set by Eurystheus for the hero to steal the Golden Apples.

The finding of the Garden of the Hesperides was the first problem for Heracles, and it was a location that he was either told about after the releasing of Prometheus, or through capturing the sea god Nereus.

Knowing where the Garden was though was not the same as being able to remove the Golden Apples. Most tales then relate how Heracles convinced the Titan Atlas to retrieve the Apples for him. This would tie into the story of the Hesperides being the daughters of the Titan. Heracles therefore relieved Atlas of his burden of the heavens whilst the Apples were retrieved. Although Atlas obtained the apples he would not take by the heavens from the shoulders of Atlas, and so Heracles was forced to trick Atlas to hold the heavens for a while whilst he adjusted his cloak.

Some of the alternative tales of Heracles' Eleventh task say how Heracles entered the Garden of the Hesperides himself killing Ladon, or else the Hesperides simply gave the Golden Apples to the hero.

Some stories also indicate that Perseus made a visit to the Garden of the Hesperides and at the same time turned Atlas to stone using the head of Medusa. This though would be hard to tie in with the stories of Heracles, Perseus being the great-grandfather of the hero and Atlas was not turned to stone during Heracles's adventures.

Look deep into the stories of ancient civilisations and you will quickly see links to more modern religious tales. Consider how easily the guarding dragon could be seen as a serpent, how the Garden of the Hesperides becomes the Garden of Eden, and Heracles becomes just a man taking an apple.

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In Greek mythology, who were the Hesperides?

In Greek mythology, who were the Hesperides?

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