Mythography | The Legend of the Hesperides in Myth and Art

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The Hesperides in Greek Mythology

In Greek mythology, the Hesperides were nymphs who guarded the legendary Golden Apple tree. There are several different accounts of their ancestry in myth. The ancient poet Hesiod claims that these nymphs were the daughters of Nyx, the goddess of Night:

"After them dark Night, having lain with no one,
gave birth...to the Hesperides, who live beyond Okeanos
and keep the golden apples and the fruit-bearing trees."
(Hesiod, Theogony, 213-216)

However, other ancient sources state that the Hesperides were the offspring of quite different parents. Atlas and Hesperis, Atlas and Pleione, or even Ceto and Phorcys were all offered as possible parents to the Hesperides.

Despite the differing opinions about the ancestry of these nymphs, ancient authors agree that the Hesperides were important in Greek myth as the guardians of the tree from which the Golden Apples grew. And these were not just any apples, either - they were the fruit that the goddess Hera received as wedding a gift from Gaia (the Earth). Indeed, the golden apples appear in several myths, including the story of Atalanta and Hippomenes, and the legendary tale of the labors of Herakles.

The Hesperides lived together in a garden, along with the dragon Ladon. There are names associated with the individual nymphs, and they are often called Aigle, Arethusa, Erytheia, Hespera, and Hesperethusa. Together, the nymphs sang enchanting and beautiful songs.

The Hesperides in Art History

Gallery | For pictures and information about the Hesperides in art, visit the Mythography gallery!

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Who's Who in Classical Mythology

This book is a great source for information about Greek and Roman mythology! Organized alphabetically, this who's who features information about over 1200 of the most intriguing characters from Classical myth and legend.

The Bibliography

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