The Eleventh Labor
The Apples of the Hesperides -
Constellation Draco
The Golden
Apples were a wedding present to Hera from Mother Earth and she entrusted them to the Hesperides, nymphs & daughters
of Atlas, assisted by the ever
watchful dragon, Ladon (Draco).
Their
father Atlas was a Titan who warred with the gods in a power struggle to control the world; the Titans lost this battle.
Afterwards, Atlas was condemned to bear
the weight of the heavens (the sky) upon his shoulders.
Upon
reaching the garden where the apples hung in a tree, Hercules seeking the aid of Atlas, asked him to retrieve them. Atlas feared
Ladon so Hercules shot some of
his poisoned arrows over the garden wall and slew the beast. Next Hercules,
with the aid of Athena, took
the burden of the sky upon himself while Atlas went after the apples. But Atlas had decided he liked being freed of
his burden and refused to reestablish
his place. Hercules informed Atlas he was in agreement having been duped and would take over the task. However, could Atlas
just hold the weight of the
heavens for a minute while he found something to pad his head for the balance of eternity? Atlas thought it over and realizing how
long this would be, complied and reassumed
the load. Hercules grabbed the apples, ducked out and that was that…
Hera
placed Ladon in the heavens as the Constellation Draco
for services rendered.