The Hesperides were four maidens who lived in a sacred garden that was full of trees that bore golden apples. Labor: The Apples of the Hesperides The eleventh labor of Heracles was to fetch golden apples from the garden of the Hesperides Being unable to renew his strength, Antaios was unable to match the might of Herakles who holding him aloft crushed his ribs and brought an end to Antaios.Greek Heroes» Heracles» Myths about Heracles » 11.
After that he caught Antaios in a bear hug and lifted him off the ground and did not let him touch it. He lifted Antaios off the ground and shook off the dirt that Antaios had on him. With this revolation, Herakles took a new tactic. Herakles realized that Antaios was invincible because as long as he touched the earth his strength was renewed by his mother Gaia (this being the reason Antaios had chosed dirt rather than oil before the match). Despite his strength Herakles could not ware Antaios down. Prior to the start of the match, while Herakles covered himself in oil as was the standard Antaios covered himself in dirt. As Herakles was a formidable wrestler himself, he accepted the challenge. Antaios a son of Poseidon and Gaia challenged everyone he met to wrestle him and had been believed invincible had made a shrine to Poseidon constructing it out of the bones of the men Antaios had killed wrestling. Atlas agreed, but as soon a he retook the heavens from Heracles, Herakles walked away, carrying the apples.Įither at the start of his elventh task or while returning to Tiryns after having acquired the apples Herakles encountered Antaios.
Herakles pretended to agree to the offer but asked that Atlas temporarily releave so that Heracles could take his lion skin pelt and make a padding of it so he could be a little more comfortable while Atlas went to take the Apples to Eurystheus. Remembering Nereus' advice not to accept the bargain Herakles pretended to accept the bargain, Herakles himself tricked Atlas. When Atlas returned he decided that he did not want to take the heavens back, and attempted to trick Herakles by offered to deliver the apples himself if Herakles would just hold the sky a little longer (Atlas however had no intent on returning). Had Herakles not traded burdens this would have made this task (like the Hydra and Augean stables). Herodotus claims that while on his way to Heracles stopped in Egypt, where King Busiris decided to make him the yearly sacrifice, but Herakles burst out of his chains.įinally making his way to the Garden of the Hesperides, Heracles made a bargain with Atlas that if Atlas picked the apples Herakles would hold the sky for a while. Nereus warned Herakles against that.Īccording to some versions Herakles was told by Nereus that in he would first have to slay the dragon Ladon who guards the apples because Atlas feared the dragon. Nereus told Herakles where the Garden of the Hesperides and advised Herakles to get Atlas to pick the apples rather than do it himself.įinally Nereus told Herakles that Atlas would make the offer to take the apples to Eurystheus himself if Herakles would just hold the sky a little longer. This is why when Nereus woke up and began changing shape into vicious creatures in order to get Herakles to let him go, Herakles held fast.
Nereus, much like Proteus would only give answers to those who could defeat him. Nereus was a shapeshifting god who was also known for his gift of prophecy and for never lying. Unsure where to go, Herakles first captured first captured Nereus (The Old Man of the Sea).
The first of these two additional Labours was to steal the apples from the Garden of the Hesperides. File:38d3141384d8a83638473edcce297fe1.jpgĪfter Herakles completed his first ten Labours, Eurystheus gave him two more claiming that neither the Hydra counted (because Iolaus helped Heracles) nor the Augean stables (either because he received payment for the job or because the rivers did the work).