Heracles & The Apples Of The Hesperides: The 12 Labours Of Heracles EP.11 | Greek Mythology

Recall that by the original agreement on the number of labors to perform, Heracles had completed his ten labors. But because the slaying of the Hydra, and the cleaning of the Augean stables, had been discounted by Eurystheus, he was to perform two more tasks. So Eurystheus assigned Heracles to fetch three of the golden apples of the Hesperides as his next task. The Hesperides were the nymph daughters of the titan Atlas, who resided in a beautiful garden, and tended to the golden apples of the garden. In that garden was a fearsome many-headed dragon called Laedon, an offspring of Echidna and Typhon, which protected the nymphs and ensured the apples were never stolen. Learning that only the old man of the sea, Nerus, knew the location of the garden, the hero travelled to Illyria, where he trapped the sea deity, and made him show him how to get there. Shortly into his journey, he was attacked by a half-giant named Antaeus, who, as long as he touched Gaia the earth, could not be killed. Heracles killed this giant by holding him above the ground, and crushing him in a bare hug. Then he met Buceres, son of Poseidon, who wanted to him as a human sacrifice to the earthshaker, his father. Heracles easily killed Buceres, and continued on his way. He got to the rock where the titan Prometheus was bound for eternity by Zeus, and tormented by the caucasian eagle, which fed daily on his ever-regenerating liver, as punishment for stealing fire from the gods, to give to humans. Prometheus had already endured this suffering for 30 years, and just as the eagle came to feed, Heracles shot it dead, and freed the titan. In gratitude, Prometheus advised Heracles on how to proceed on his task, that he must persuade Atlas, the titan who held up the heavens, to get them for him, for only he could peacefully retrieve the golden apples from his daughters and their guardian dragon. Atlas agreed to fetch the apples, while Heracles temporarily took his place, carrying the heavens till he returned. However, when the titan returned, he refused to take back the heavens, offering to deliver the apples himself, while Heracles forever remained in his place. Here and again, Heracles had to employ his wits. He pretended to agree to Atlas' demands, and cleverly asked him to hold the heavy load for a few seconds, so he could adjust his clothing, and put a padding on his shoulders, since he would be forever carrying something so heavy. Atlas foolishly took back the heavens, thinking it would be for a while, but Heracles snatched the apples instead, and ran off. In another version of the story, Heracles did not ask for Atlas' help. He went straight to the garden of the Hesperides, where he killed Ladon the dragon, and took the apples. Whichever story version it is, he successfully delivered the golden apples to Eurystheus, ready for his final task.