THE ELEVENTH LABOR--THE GOLDEN APPLES OF HESPERIDES
When the wedding between Zeus and Hera was celebrated all the gods
brought presents. Mother Earth brought some apple-trees as her gift.
These trees bore precious golden apples, and Zeus and Hera were so
pleased with their wonderful wedding-present that they appointed four
maidens, called the Daughters of the West, to guard the apples, and
also they placed a dragon there with a hundred heads, who never slept.
The fruit was so inviting that even the maidens would have been
tempted to eat it if the terrible dragon had not kept close to the
tree. A roar like thunder came out of each of his hundred mouths and
frightened everything away that dared approach the trees, and
lightning darted from his eyes to strike down intruders.
The trees grew more and more beautiful from year to year, and the
apples were so heavy that the boughs bent beneath the golden load.
They grew in the Garden of the Hesperides, in islands way off to the
west, and were watered by springs of nectar which had their rise near
the throne of Zeus.
Eurystheus had heard of the apples and he ordered Herakles to bring
them to him. For a long time Herakles wandered about in various lands
until he came to the river Rhone, where the water-goddesses or nymphs
advised him to ask counsel from the ancient lord of the deep sea, who
knew all the secrets of the ocean depths and whose wisdom was beyond
that of the gods. He is called by many names, but his gentlest name is
Nereus, and he does not like to be questioned unless he can take any
shape he pleases.
He usually escapes intruders, but to those who are not afraid and who
manage to grasp and to hold him, he freely opens the store of his
wisdom. This was what Herakles did. Nereus took on the form of a lion,
a serpent, a fish, a stream of water, and at last, of an old man, but
Herakles held him close and learned from him the road to the Garden of
the Hesperides.
Leaving Nereus, Herakles travelled south into Africa, where he met
Antæos, a huge giant who lived in the desert. Antæos was a son of
Earth and Ocean, and he was as strong as the terrible sand-storms. He
was cruel to all travellers who crossed his domains and slew them, but
he loved and protected the tiny Pygmies that lived all around him. No
one had ever been able to vanquish him in battle, for Mother Earth
gave him new strength and vigor every time he lay down or touched the
ground.
Herakles wrestled with him and threw him down many times, but Antæos
sprang up stronger than ever. At last Herakles caught him up with one
hand, and holding him high in the air where he could not receive help
from Mother Earth, squeezed him to death.
Herakles was tired out with this tremendous exertion and lay down in
the desert to rest. But he did not sleep long, for a whole army of
the little people, seeing their beloved giant lying dead, came with
their weapons to attack Herakles. He found himself covered with them
from head to foot. He sprang up, and quickly gathering up his lion's
skin, crushed a multitude of the Pygmies and killed them.
Then he hurried away toward the east, going through many countries
until he came to India, and finding himself travelling in the wrong
direction, turned to the north and west and came to the Caucasus
Mountains. Here he found Prometheus chained to the rocks of a high
mountain-peak. Prometheus had taught mankind the use of fire and how
to build houses and had otherwise interfered with the work of the
gods, thereby bringing this punishment upon himself. Herakles took
pity on him and set him free. In return for this kindly act Prometheus
told him the most direct way to the Garden of the Hesperides, which
was through Scythia and the region of the Hyperboreans at the back of
the North Wind.
On his way Herakles stopped to visit Atlas, who as a punishment for
once having rebelled against the gods was obliged to carry the heavens
on his shoulders. "Let me relieve thee for awhile, friend Atlas," said
Herakles, after greeting him in a most cordial manner. "Let me take
the heavens on my shoulders and I will let thee do me a great service
in return. I must have the Golden Apples that grow in the Garden of
the Hesperides to take to Eurystheus, and thou canst bring them to
me."
Atlas gladly placed the heavy firmament on Herakles' shoulders and
took his way to the Garden. There he contrived to put the many-headed
dragon to sleep and then slay him. Taking possession of the Golden
Apples, he returned with them to Herakles.
"I thank thee very much, friend Atlas," said Herakles. "Take thy place
again and give me the apples."
"Nay, I have borne the weight of the heavens for a long time,"
answered Atlas. "Thou hadst better keep my place and I will carry the
Golden Apples to Eurystheus."
Herakles was taken aback at this reply and began to consider how he
might escape from this unexpected dilemma. At last he spoke. "Very
well, I will willingly remain in thy place, friend Atlas," he said.
"One thing only I must first ask of thee. Take the heavens back just
for a moment while I get a pad to put on my head so that the weight
may not hurt it. Otherwise the heavens will fall and crush us both."
Poor, simple old Atlas agreed to this, and putting the Golden Apples
on the ground he again took the firmament on his shoulders. Herakles
picked up the apples and went off saying, "We must not bear malice
toward each other, friend Atlas. Good-by."
With this he departed and hastened back to Mykenæ.