Irlandos at 15:11, November 17, 2008

2008-11-17T15:11:11Z

Irlandos at 13:54, April 23, 2006

2006-04-23T13:54:32Z

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In [[Greek mythology]], the '''Hesperides''' are [[nymph]]s who tend a blissful garden in a far west corner of the world, located, according to various sources, in the [[Arcadia]]n Mountains in [[Greece]], near the Atlas mountains in Libya, or on a distant island at the edge of the ocean. According to the Greek poet [[Stesichorus]], in his poem the "song of [[Geryon]]", and the Greek geographer [[Strabo]], in his book ''Geographika'' (volume III), the Hesperides are in [[Tartessos]], a location placed to the south of Iberia (Spain). The Greek poet [[Hesiod]] said that the ancient name of [[Cádiz]] was Erytheia, another name for the Hesperides.

Additionally, '''Hesperides''' (also called '''Fortunate Isles''') is a name given by the ancients to a series of islands located to the extreme west of the then known world. These may have included the Canary Islands, the Madeira Islands and Cape Verde.

== The evening ==
According to different accounts, there were either three, four, or seven Hesperides, but they are usually numbered three, like the other Greek triads (the [[Charites|Three Graces]] and the [[Moirae]]). Among the names given to them are Aegle ("dazzling light"), Arethusa, Erytheia (or Erytheis), Hesperia (or Hespereia), Hespere (or Hespera), Hestia, and Hesperusa. They are sometimes called the Western Maidens, the Daughters of Evening, or the Sunset Goddesses, all apparently tied to their imagined location in the distant west, and Hesperis is appropriately the personification of the evening (as [[Eos]] is of the dawn) and the Evening Star is Hesperus. They are also called the African Sisters, perhaps when thought to be in Libya. In addition to their tending of the garden, they were said to have taken great pleasure in singing.

They are sometimes portrayed as the evening daughters of Night (''[[Nyx]]'') and Darkness (''[[Erebus]]''), in accord with the way Eos in the farthermost east, in [[Colchis]], is the daughter of the titan [[Hyperion]]. Or they are listed as the daughters of [[Atlas]], or of [[Zeus]] and either [[Hesperius]] or [[Themis]], or [[Phorcys]] and [[Ceto]].

== The Garden of the Hesperides ==

The '''Garden of the Hesperides''' is [[Hera]]'s orchard in the west, where either a single tree or a grove of immortality-giving [[apple#cultural aspects|golden apple]]s grew. The apples were planted from the fruited branches that [[Gaia]] gave to her as a wedding gift when Hera accepted [[Zeus]]. The Hesperides were given the task of tending to the grove, but occasionally plucked from it themselves. Not trusting them, Hera also placed in the garden a never-sleeping, hundred-headed, dragon, named [[Ladon]], as an additional safeguard.

Although Herakles was supposed to perform only ten labours, [[Eurystheus]] discounted those where he was aided or paid, and so two additional labours were given. The first of these (the eleventh overall) was to steal the apples from the garden. Herakles first caught [[Nereus]], the shape-shifting sea god, to learn where the Garden of the Hesperides was located.

In some versions of the tale, Herakles did not know where to travel, and so sought help, being directed to [[Prometheus]] to ask, and when reaching Prometheus freed him from his torture as payment. This tale is more usually found in the position of the [[Erymanthian Boar]], since it is associated with [[Chiron]] choosing to forgo immortality and taking Prometheus' place.

In some variations, Herakles, either at the start or at the end of his task, meets [[Antaeus]], who was invincible as long as he touched his mother, [[Gaia]], the earth. Antaeus was killed by placing him above the earth, suspended in a tree.

Occasionally, versions tell that Herakles stopped in Egypt, where King Busiris decided to make him the yearly sacrifice, but Herakles burst out of his chains.

Finally making his way to the Garden of the Hesperides, Herakles tricked Atlas into retrieving some of the golden apples for him, by offering to hold the heavens for a little while (Atlas was able to take them, as in this version, Atlas was the father of the Hesperides). Upon his return with the apples, Atlas decided not to take the heavens back from Heracles, but Heracles tricked him again by agreeing to take his place on condition that Atlas relieved him temporarily so that Herakles could make his cloak more comfortable. Atlas agreed, Heracles walked away. According to an alternative version, Herakles slew Ladon instead.

Herakles was the only person to successfully steal the apples, although [[Athena]] later returned the apples to their rightful place, in the garden.

==External link==
* [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/picture-of-month/displaypicture.asp?venue=7&id=137 'The Garden of the Hesperides'] in the [http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ladylever/index.asp Lady Lever Art Gallery]

[[Category:Nymphs]]
[[Category:Twelve labours of Herakles]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:11, November 17, 2008
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−	In [[Greek mythology]], the '''Hesperides''' are [[nymph]]s who tend a blissful garden in a far west corner of the world, located, according to various sources, in the [[Arcadia]]n Mountains in [[Greece]], near the Atlas mountains in Libya, or on a distant island at the edge of the ocean. According to the Greek poet [[Stesichorus]], in his poem the "song of [[Geryon]]", and the Greek geographer [[Strabo]], in his book ''Geographika'' (volume III), the Hesperides are in [[Tartessos]], a location placed to the south of Iberia (Spain). The Greek poet [[Hesiod]] said that the ancient name of [[Cádiz]] was Erytheia, another name for the Hesperides.	+	In [[Greek mythology]], the '''Hesperides''' are [[nymph]]s who tend a blissful garden in a far west corner of the world, located, according to various sources, in the [[Arcadia]]n Mountains in [[Greece]], near the Atlas mountains in Libya, or on a distant island at the edge of the ocean. According to the Greek poet [[Stesichorus]], in his poem the "song of [[Geryon]]", and the Greek geographer [[Strabo]], in his book ''Geographika'' (volume III), the Hesperides are in [[Tartessos]], a location placed to the south of Iberia (Spain). The Greek poet [[Hesiod]] said that the ancient name of Cádiz was Erytheia, another name for the Hesperides.

	Additionally, '''Hesperides''' (also called '''Fortunate Isles''') is a name given by the ancients to a series of islands located to the extreme west of the then known world. These may have included the Canary Islands, the Madeira Islands and Cape Verde.		Additionally, '''Hesperides''' (also called '''Fortunate Isles''') is a name given by the ancients to a series of islands located to the extreme west of the then known world. These may have included the Canary Islands, the Madeira Islands and Cape Verde.

Hesperides - Revision history

Irlandos at 15:11, November 17, 2008

Irlandos at 13:54, April 23, 2006