Myth of the golden apples of the Hesperides summary. Valentin Tublin - golden apples of the Hesperides. Fourth labor: Kerynean hind

An ancient Greek legend says that the most difficult feat of Hercules in the service of Eurystheus was to get the apples of the Hesperides. A long time ago, when the Olympian gods celebrated the wedding of Zeus and Hera, Gaia-Earth gave Hera a magic tree on which three golden apples grew. (That’s why the image of this apple tree was also in Olympia). And in order to fulfill the order of Eurystheus, Hercules was forced to go to the great titan Atlas (Atlas), who alone holds the heavy vault of heaven on his shoulders, in order to get three golden apples from his garden. And the daughters of Atlas Hesperides looked after this garden. IN ancient greek mythology The Hesperides (aka Atlantis) are nymphs, daughters of Hesper (Vesper) and Nyx, the goddess of the Night, guarding the golden apples. The Hesperides live across the Ocean River, next to the Gorgons. (According to another version, the apples were owned by the Hyperboreans.) None of the mortals knew the way to the Garden of the Hesperides and the Atlas. Therefore, Hercules wandered for a long time and passed through all the countries that he had previously passed on the way to fetch Geryon’s cows. He reached the Eridanus River (see Art. Jordan), where he was greeted with honor by beautiful nymphs. They gave him advice on how to find the way to the Hesperides Gardens.

Hercules had to attack the sea elder Nereus in order to learn from him the way to the Hesperides. After all, except for the prophetic Nereus, no one knew the secret path. The struggle of Hercules with the sea god was difficult. But he mastered it and tied it up.

And in order to buy his freedom, Nereus had to reveal to Hercules the secret of the way to the gardens of the Hesperides. His path lay through Libya, where he met the giant Antaeus, son of Poseidon, god of the seas, and the goddess of the earth Gaia. Antaeus forced all the wanderers to fight him, and those he defeated, he killed. Antaeus wanted Hercules to fight him. But no one could defeat Antaeus, because when Antaeus felt that he was losing strength, he touched his mother Earth, and his strength was renewed. However, as soon as Antaeus was torn away from the Earth, his strength melted away. Hercules fought with Antaeus for a long time, and only when, during the struggle, Hercules tore Antaeus away from the Earth, high into the air, Antaeus’ strength dried up, and Hercules strangled him.

And when Hercules came to Egypt, tired from the journey, he fell asleep on the banks of the Nile. And when the king of Egypt, the son of Poseidon and the daughter of Epaphus Lysianassa, Busiris, saw the sleeping Hercules, he ordered Hercules to be tied up and sacrificed to Zeus. After all, there has been a crop failure in Egypt for nine years. And the soothsayer Thrasios, who came from Cyprus, predicted that the crop failure would stop only when Busiris annually sacrificed a foreigner to Zeus. Thrasios himself fell the first victim. And from then on, Busiris sacrificed to Zeus all the foreigners who came to Egypt. But when they brought Hercules to the altar, he tore all the ropes with which he was bound and killed Busiris himself and his son Amphidamantus. After this, Hercules traveled a long way before reaching the end of the earth, where the great titan Atlas held the sky on his shoulders. Amazed by the mighty appearance of Atlas, Hercules asked him for three golden apples from a golden tree in the gardens of the Hesperides, for King Eurystheus, who lived in Mycenae.

The Titan Atlas agreed to give three apples to the son of Zeus if he would hold the firmament while he went for them. Hercules agreed and took the place of Atlas. The huge weight of the sky fell on the shoulders of Hercules, and he strained all his strength to hold the firmament. He held it until he returned with three golden Atlas apples. Atlas told Hercules that he himself would take them to Mycenae, and Hercules would have to hold the firmament until his return. Hercules realized that Atlas wanted to deceive him and free himself from the heavy sky. Pretending that he agreed, Hercules asked Atlas to replace him for a moment so that he could put the lion skin on his shoulders.

Atlas took his place again and shouldered the heavy sky. Hercules picked up his club and golden apples and, saying goodbye to Atlas, quickly, without ever looking back, went to Mycenae. And around him, the stars fell to the Earth like an endless rain, and then he realized that the offended Atlas was angry and was shaking the sky violently in anger. Hercules returned to Eurystheus and gave him the golden apples of the Hesperides. But the king, amazed that Hercules returned unharmed, did not take the golden apples from him.

Here is a shortened version of this legend:

On the western tip of the earth, near the Ocean, where day met Night, lived the beautiful-voiced nymphs of the Hesperides. Their divine singing was heard only by Atlas, who held the firmament on his shoulders and souls of the dead, sadly descended into the underworld. The nymphs were walking in a wonderful garden where a tree grew, bending its heavy branches to the ground. Golden fruits sparkled and hid in their greenery. They gave everyone who touched them immortality and eternal youth.

Eurystheus ordered these fruits to be brought, and not in order to become equal to the gods. He hoped that Hercules would not fulfill this order.

Throwing a lion's skin on his back, throwing a bow over his shoulder, taking a club, the hero walked briskly towards the Garden of the Hesperides. He is already accustomed to the fact that the impossible is achieved from him.

Hercules walked for a long time until he reached the place where heaven and earth converged on Atlanta, like on a giant support. He looked in horror at the titan holding an incredible weight.

“I am Hercules,” the hero responded. “I was ordered to bring three golden apples from the garden of the Hesperides.” I heard that you can pick these apples alone.

Joy flashed in Atlas's eyes. He was up to something evil.

“I can’t reach the tree,” said Atlas. “And, as you can see, my hands are busy.” Now, if you hold my burden, I will willingly fulfill your request.

“I agree,” Hercules answered and stood next to the titan, who was many heads taller than him.
Atlas sank, and a monstrous weight fell on Hercules’ shoulders. Sweat covered my forehead and entire body. The legs sank up to the ankles into the ground trampled by Atlas. The time it took the giant to get the apples seemed like an eternity to the hero. But Atlas was in no hurry to take back his burden.

“If you want, I’ll take the precious apples to Mycenae myself,” he suggested to Hercules.

The simple-minded hero almost agreed, fearing to offend the titan who had rendered him a favor by refusing, but Athena intervened in time - she taught him to respond with cunning to cunning. Pretending to be delighted by Atlas's offer, Hercules immediately agreed, but asked the Titan to hold the arch while he made a lining for his shoulders.

As soon as Atlas, deceived by the feigned joy of Hercules, shouldered the usual burden on his weary shoulders, the hero immediately raised his club and bow and, not paying attention to the indignant cries of Atlas, set off on the way back.

Eurystheus did not take the apples of the Hesperides, obtained by Hercules with such difficulty. After all, he didn’t need apples, but the death of the hero. Hercules gave the apples to Athena, who returned them to the Hesperides.

This ended the service of Hercules to Eurystheus, and he was able to return to Thebes, where new exploits and new troubles awaited him.

A long time ago, when the gods celebrated the wedding of Zeus and Hera on bright Olympus, Gaia-Earth gave the bride a magic tree on which golden apples grew. These apples had the property of restoring youth. But none of the people knew where the garden was located in which the wonderful apple tree grew. There were rumors that this garden belongs to the Hesperide nymphs and is located at the very edge of the earth, where the Titan Atlas holds the firmament on his shoulders, and the apple tree with the golden fruits of youth is guarded by the gigantic hundred-headed serpent Ladon, generated by the sea deity Phorcys and the Titanide Keto.

While Hercules wandered the earth, carrying out the king's orders, Eurystheus became older and weaker every day. He had already begun to fear that Hercules would take away his power and become king himself. So Eurystheus decided to send Hercules for golden apples in the hope that he would not return from such and such a distance - he would either perish on the way, or die in a fight with Ladon.

As always, Eurystheus conveyed his order through the herald Copreus. Hercules listened to Copreus, silently threw the lion skin over his shoulders, took a bow and arrows and his faithful companion-club, and once again set off on the road.

Again Hercules walked through all of Hellas, all of Thrace, visited the land of the Hyperboreans and finally came to the distant river Eridanus. The nymphs who lived on the banks of this river took pity on the wandering hero and advised him to turn to the prophetic sea elder Nereus, who knew everything in the world. “If not the wise old man Nereus, then no one can show you the way,” the nymphs told Hercules.

Hercules went to the sea and began calling Nereus. Waves rushed onto the shore, and cheerful Nereids, daughters of the sea elder, swam out from the depths of the sea on playful dolphins, and behind them appeared Nereus himself with a long gray beard. "What do you want from me, mortal?" - asked Nereus. “Show me the way to the garden of the Hesperides, where, according to rumors, an apple tree grows with the golden fruits of youth,” Hercules asked.

This is how Nereus answered the hero: “I know everything, I see everything that is hidden from the eyes of people - but I don’t tell everyone about it. And I won’t tell you anything. Go, mortal, on your way.” Hercules got angry, and with the words “you will tell me, old man, when I lightly press you,” he grabbed Nereus with his powerful arms.

In an instant, the old man of the sea turned into a large fish and slipped out of the arms of Hercules. Hercules stepped on the fish's tail - it hissed and turned into a snake. Hercules grabbed the snake - it turned into fire. Hercules scooped up water from the sea and wanted to pour it on the fire - the fire turned into water, and the water ran to the sea, to its native element.

It’s not so easy to leave the son of Zeus! Hercules dug a hole in the sand and blocked the water's path to the sea. And the water suddenly rose in a column and became a tree. Hercules waved his sword and wanted to cut down the tree - the tree turned into a white seagull bird.

What could Hercules do here? He raised his bow and already pulled the string. It was then, frightened by the deadly arrow, that Nereus submitted. He took on his original appearance and said: “You are strong, mortal, and brave beyond human measure. All the secrets of the world can be revealed to such a hero. Listen to me and remember. The path to the garden in which the apple tree with golden fruits grows lies across the sea in the sultry Libya. Then follow the seashore to the west until you reach the end of the earth. There you will see the Titan Atlas, who has been holding the firmament on his shoulders for a thousand years - this is how he was punished for rebellion against Zeus. The garden of the Hesperide nymphs is nearby. In that garden "What you are looking for. But how to pick the treasured apples for you - decide for yourself. The hundred-headed serpent Ladon will not let you come close to Hera's apple tree."

“Accept my gratitude, prophetic old man,” Hercules said to Nereus, “but I want to ask you for one more favor: take me to the other side of the sea. The roundabout route to Libya is too long, and across the sea is just a stone’s throw away.”

Nereus scratched his gray beard and with a sigh offered Hercules his back.

On the same day, at midday, Hercules found himself in sultry Libya. He walked for a long time along the shifting sands under the burning rays of the sun and met a giant as tall as a ship's mast.

“Stop!” the giant shouted. “What do you want in my desert?”

“I’m going to the ends of the world, looking for the garden of the Hesperides, where the tree of youth grows,” Hercules answered.

The giant blocked the way for Hercules. “I am the master here,” he said menacingly. “I am Antaeus, the son of Gaia-Earth. I do not let anyone pass through my domain. Fight me. If you defeat me, you will move on, if not, you will stay.” And the giant pointed to a pile of skulls and bones, half-buried in sand.

Hercules had to fight with the son of the Earth. Hercules and Antaeus attacked each other at once and clasped their hands. Antaeus was huge, heavy and strong, like a stone, but Hercules turned out to be more agile: having contrived, he threw Antaeus to the ground and pressed him to the sand. But as if Antaeus’ strength had increased tenfold, he threw Hercules off of him like a feather and hand-to-hand combat began again. For the second time, Hercules knocked over Antaeus, and again the son of the Earth rose easily, as if he had gained more strength from the fall... Hercules was surprised at the strength of the giant, but before he met him in a mortal duel for the third time, he realized: Antaeus is the son of the Earth, she, the mother, Gaia gives her son new strength every time he touches her.

The outcome of the fight was now a foregone conclusion. Hercules, tightly grasping Antaeus, lifted him up above the ground and held him until he suffocated in his hands.

Now the path to the Garden of the Hesperides was clear. Without hindrance, Hercules reached the edge of the world, where the sky touches the earth. Here he saw the Titan Atlas propping up the sky with his shoulders.

"Who are you and why did you come here?" - Atlas asked Hercules.

“I need apples from the tree of youth that grows in the garden of the Hesperides,” answered Hercules.

Atlas laughed: “You can’t get these apples. They are guarded by a hundred-headed dragon. He doesn’t sleep day or night and doesn’t let anyone near the tree. But I can help you: after all, the Hesperides are my daughters. Just stand in my place and hold sky, and I'll go and bring apples. Three will be enough for you?"

Hercules agreed, put his weapon and lion skin on the ground, stood next to the titan and put his shoulders under the vault of heaven. Atlas straightened his tired back and went for the golden apples.

The crystal dome of the sky fell with a terrible weight on the shoulders of Hercules, but he stood like an indestructible rock and waited...

At last Atlas returned. Three golden apples sparkled in his hands. “Who should I give them to?” he asked. “Tell me, I’ll go and give them to you. I so want to walk on the earth. How tired I am of standing here, at the end of the world, and holding up this heavy sky! I’m glad that I found a replacement.”

“Wait,” Hercules said calmly, “let me just put the lion’s skin on my shoulders. Put the apples on the ground and hold up the sky until I get comfortable.”

Apparently the titan Atlas was not far off in his mind. He put the apples on the ground and again lifted the sky onto his shoulders. And Hercules picked up the golden apples, wrapped himself in a lion's skin, bowed to Atlas and left without even looking back.

Hercules continued to walk even when night fell on the ground. He hurried to Mycenae, sensing that his service to King Eurystheus was coming to an end. Stars were falling from the night sky. It was Atlas who shook the firmament in anger at Hercules.

“Here, Eurystheus, I brought you the apples of the Hesperides. Now you can become young again,” said Hercules, returning to Mycenae.

Eurystheus extended his hands to the golden apples, but immediately pulled them back. He felt scared. “These are Hera’s apples,” he thought, “what if she punishes me if I eat them.”

Eurystheus stamped his feet. “Get lost with these apples!” he shouted at Hercules. “Get out of my palace! You can throw these apples away!”

Hercules left. He walked home and thought about what to do with the apples of his youth. Suddenly the goddess of wisdom Athena appeared in front of him. “Wisdom is more valuable than youth,” as if someone whispered to him. Hercules handed the apples to Athena, she took them with a smile and disappeared.

Retelling by N.A. Kun

Apples of the Hesperides (twelfth labor)

The most difficult feat of Hercules in the service of Eurystheus was his last, twelfth labor. He had to go to the great titan Atlas, who holds the firmament on his shoulders, and get from his gardens, which were watched by the daughters of Atlas, the Hesperides, three golden apples. These apples grew on a golden tree, grown by the goddess of the earth Gaia as a gift to the great Hera on the day of her wedding with Zeus. To accomplish this feat, it was necessary first of all to know the way to Gardens of the Hesperides, guarded by a dragon who never closed his eyes to sleep.

No one knew the way to the Hesperides and Atlas. Hercules wandered for a long time through Asia and Europe, he passed through all the countries that he had previously passed on the way to fetch Geryon’s cows; Everywhere Hercules asked about the path, but no one knew it. In his search, he went to the farthest north, to the Eridanus River, which eternally rolls its stormy, boundless waters. On the banks of Eridanus, beautiful nymphs greeted the great son of Zeus with honor and gave him advice on how to find out the way to the gardens of the Hesperides. Hercules was supposed to attack the sea prophetic old man Nereus by surprise when he came ashore from the depths of the sea, and learn from him the way to the Hesperides; except Nereus, no one knew this path. Hercules searched for Nemeus for a long time. Finally, he managed to find Nereus on the seashore. Hercules attacked the sea god. The fight with the sea god was difficult. To free himself from the iron embrace of Hercules, Nereus took on all sorts of forms, but still his hero did not let go. Finally, he tied up the tired Nereus, and the sea god had to reveal to Hercules the secret of the way to the gardens of the Hesperides in order to gain freedom. Having learned this secret, the son of Zeus released the sea elder and set off on a long journey.

Again he had to go through Libya. Here he met the giant Antaeus, the son of Poseidon, the god of the seas, and the goddess of the earth Gaia, who gave birth to him, fed him and raised him. Antey forced all travelers to fight with him and killed everyone he defeated in the fight mercilessly. The giant demanded that Hercules fight him too. No one could defeat Antaeus in single combat without knowing the secret from where the giant received more and more strength during the fight. The secret was this: when Antaeus felt that he was beginning to lose strength, he touched the earth, his mother, and his strength was renewed: he drew it from his mother, the great goddess of the earth. But as soon as Antaeus was torn off the ground and lifted into the air, his strength disappeared. Hercules fought with Antaeus for a long time. several times he knocked him to the ground, but Antaeus’ strength only increased. Suddenly, during the struggle, the mighty Hercules lifted Antaeus high into the air - the strength of the son of Gaia dried up, and Hercules strangled him.

Hercules went further and came to Egypt. There, tired from the long journey, he fell asleep in the shade of a small grove on the banks of the Nile. The king of Egypt, the son of Poseidon and the daughter of Epaphus Lysianassa, Busiris, saw the sleeping Hercules, and ordered the sleeping hero to be tied up. He wanted to sacrifice Hercules to his father Zeus. There was a crop failure in Egypt for nine years; The soothsayer Thrasios, who came from Cyprus, predicted that the crop failure would stop only if Busiris annually sacrificed a foreigner to Zeus. Busiris ordered the capture of the soothsayer Thrasius and was the first to sacrifice him. Since then, the cruel king sacrificed to the Thunderer all the foreigners who came to Egypt. They brought Hercules to the altar, but the great hero tore the ropes with which he was bound and killed Busiris himself and his son Amphidamantus at the altar. This is how the cruel king of Egypt was punished.

Hercules had to meet many more dangers on his way until he reached the edge of the earth, where the great Titan Atlas. The hero looked in amazement at the mighty titan, holding the entire vault of heaven on his broad shoulders.

Oh, great titan Atlas! - Hercules turned to him, - I am the son of Zeus, Hercules. Eurystheus, the king of gold-rich Mycenae, sent me to you. Eurystheus commanded me to get from you three golden apples from the golden tree in the gardens of the Hesperides.

“I will give you three apples, son of Zeus,” answered Atlas, “while I go after them, you must stand in my place and hold the vault of heaven on your shoulders.”

Hercules agreed. He took the place of Atlas. An incredible weight fell on the shoulders of the son of Zeus. He strained all his strength and held the firmament. The weight pressed terribly on Hercules’ mighty shoulders. He bent under the weight of the sky, his muscles bulged like mountains, sweat covered his entire body from tension, but superhuman strength and the help of the goddess Athena gave him the opportunity to hold the firmament until Atlas returned with three golden apples. Returning, Atlas said to the hero:

Here are three apples, Hercules; if you want, I myself will take them to Mycenae, and you hold the firmament until my return; then I will take your place again.

Hercules understood Atlas’s cunning, he realized that the titan wanted to be completely freed from his hard work, and he used cunning against the cunning.

Okay, Atlas, I agree! - Hercules answered. “Just let me make myself a pillow first, I’ll put it on my shoulders so that the vault of heaven doesn’t press them so terribly.”

Atlas stood up again in his place and shouldered the weight of the sky. Hercules picked up his bow and quiver of arrows, took his club and golden apples and said:

Goodbye Atlas! I held the vault of the sky while you went for the apples of the Hesperides, but I don’t want to carry the entire weight of the sky on my shoulders forever.

With these words, Hercules left the titan, and Atlas again had to hold the vault of heaven on his mighty shoulders, as before. Hercules returned to Eurystheus and gave him the golden apples. Eurystheus gave them to Hercules, and he gave the apples to his patroness, great daughter Zeus to Athena-Pallas. Athena returned the apples to the Hesperides so that they would remain in the gardens forever.

After his twelfth labor, Hercules was freed from service with Eurystheus. Now he could return to the seven gates of Thebes. But the son of Zeus did not stay there long. New exploits awaited him. He gave his wife Megara as a wife to his friend Iolaus, and he himself went back to Tiryns.

But not only victories awaited him, Hercules also faced grave troubles, since the great goddess was still pursuing him

Ancient Greek myth "Golden apples of the Hesperides"

The Twelfth Labor of Hercules

Genre: myth

The main characters of the fairy tale “The Golden Apples of the Hesperides” and their characteristics

Hercules, son of Zeus, demigod and hero. Courageous, tireless, very strong,
Nereus, sea god, elder.
Antaeus, the giant. Son of Gaia and Poseidon. Brutal killer.
Busiris, king of Egypt. Brutal killer.
Atlas. Titanium. He held the vault of the sky, but was not averse to sneaking away. Very strong, but rustic.

Plan for retelling the fairy tale "The Golden Apples of the Hesperides"

New task for Eurystheus.
Finding the way to the Garden of the Hesperides
Fight with Nereus
Fight with Antaeus.
Adventure in Egypt.
Hercules replaces Atlas
Atlas is cunning
Hercules deceives Atlas
Return and end of the service of Hercules.

The shortest summary of the fairy tale “The Golden Apples of the Hesperides” for reader's diary in 6 sentences

King Eurystheus ordered Hercules to bring the golden apples of the Hesperides
Hercules searched for a long time and the nymphs advised him to ask Nereus.
Hercules defeated Nereus and learned the way.
Hercules defeated Antaeus and killed the king of Egypt.
Herkal replaced Atlas while he went for apples
Atlas did not want to stand up, but Hercules deceived him and returned to Mycenae with the apples.

The main idea of the fairy tale "The Golden Apples of the Hesperides"
Not only strength helps to achieve a goal, but also cunning.

What does the fairy tale “The Golden Apples of the Hesperides” teach?
The fairy tale teaches you to be strong and cunning. Don't give up and look for your way everywhere. Teaches you to overcome life's difficulties. Teaches optimism. Teaches you to faithfully perform your duty and responsibilities. Teaches you to love your native land.

Review of the fairy tale "The Golden Apples of the Hesperides"
I also liked this myth about Hercules. In it, Hercules again had to fight a lot and kill many, but he completed the task. He even had to cheat so as not to remain holding up the firmament. True, in the end, the work of Hercules turned out to be Sisyphean; the apples were still returned to the Hesperides.

Proverbs for the fairy tale "The Golden Apples of the Hesperides"
No one will thank you for wasted work.
Whoever bends whomever beats him.
You can't take everything by force.
Strength without mind is a burden.
Business before pleasure.

Read summary, a short retelling of the fairy tale "The Golden Apples of the Hesperides"
The most difficult was the twelfth labor of Hercules, in which he had to get three golden apples from the gardens of Atlas. No one knew the way to Atlas, which held the firmament, and where the gardens of the Hesperides were located.
Therefore, Hercules wandered around Europe and Asia for a long time, climbed to the far north to the Eridanus River, and there the nymphs advised the hero to watch for the sea elder Nereus and take him by surprise.
Hercules found the sea god and fought with him. Nereus began to take on different guises, but could not free himself from the iron grip of Hercules. He admitted his defeat and opened the way for the hero to the Hesperides Gardens.
Hercules had to go through Libya and in these hot lands he met Antaeus. Antaeus was the son of the god of the seas Poseidon and the goddess of the earth Gaia. He fought with all the travelers who passed through his lands, and defeated and killed everyone.
Hercules began to fight Antaeus and threw the giant to the ground many times. But Antaeus, touching the ground, regained his strength and rushed into battle again. Finally, Hercules guessed to lift Antaeus into the air and hold him, squeezing him with his powerful hands, until Antaeus suffocated. So Hercules defeated Antaeus and moved on.
Then Hercules went to Egypt. There, the cruel king Busiris wanted to sacrifice Hercules and tied up the sleeping man. But when Hercules woke up, he broke his bonds and killed King Busiris.
Hercules wandered for a long time until he reached the edge of the Earth. There he saw the mighty giant Atlas, who held the vault of heaven on his shoulders.
Hercules greeted the titan and said that King Eurystheus of Mycenae had sent him for golden apples.
Atlas agreed to give Hercules three apples and asked the hero to hold the firmament while he went for the apples. Hercules took the weight of the firmament on his shoulders and barely held it. But he tensed his powerful muscles and straightened up. It was hard to hold the firmament.
But then Atlas returned with apples and said that he was ready to take the apples to the king of Mycenae, and let Hercules hold the vault of heaven for him for now. But Hercules understood the titan’s cunning; he simply did not want to hold such a weight any longer.
Therefore, Hercules also decided to cheat. He said he agreed, but asked Atlas to hold the arch while he made a pillow for the shoulders. Atlas accepted the firmament, and Hercules took the apples, announced to Atlas that he could not hold the firmament forever and went home.
He brought golden apples to King Eurystheus, who gave them to Hercules, Hercules gave the apples to Athena, and Athena returned the apples to the Hesperides.
After completing the twelfth labor, Hercules was freed from service with Eurystheus, but new exploits and adventures still awaited this hero.

Drawings and illustrations for the fairy tale "The Golden Apples of the Hesperides"