In Supercurioso, we are great admirers of the Greek mythology and as such we are going to tell you in this article the most outstanding curiosities of the nymphs that he looked after the garden of Hera and that they received the name of Hespérides.
This famous garden, was located in a far corner of the West bordering the ocean that bordered the world. With this vague description of the Greek sages, it was very difficult to locate this place somewhere on the real map, although many of them said it was located very close to the Atlas Mountains. If you want to know more about the caretakers of this garden, you only have to read this article!
Hesperides | 10 curiosities of the nymphs that looked after the garden of Hera
1. They used to be three
This was the number of Hesperides that was normally represented in all the writings or works of art of Classical Greece. All of them received many names throughout history that were continually exchanged because of their impersonality.
2. The coveted fruit
The garden of the Hesperids was famous for many reasons. One of them is that it belonged to the goddess Hera, but the fruits that sprung from its numerous trees were still more famous. In this mysterious and paradisiacal place looked after by nymphs, you could get some golden apples that provided immortality to everyone who tried them.
3. Daughters of a titan
The legend of the Hesperides prays, that these they were daughters of the great titan Atlas . Their names were Hesperetusta, Egle and Eritia although as we have said before they were known by many other names. In previous versions, they were daughters of Zeus or even the same night.
4. Relationship with Heracles
One of the most famous works of Hercules , was precisely to steal the golden apples from Hera's garden. The classic hero got it because he managed to deceive and confuse the titan Atlas , who was finally the one who picked them up. After having shown them to Eurystheus, the coveted fruits were returned to the garden of the Hesperides.
5. Your help to keep an eye on Hera's garden
It seems that the goddess Hera did not trust one hundred percent of the Hesperides to watch over her garden, so she chose to put another guardian. This protector was a dragon of nothing more and nothing less than a hundred whose name was Ladon . Some versions of the legend claim that he was killed at the hands of Hercules and became the constellation known as the Dragon.
6. The garden of the Hesperides was a gift
Because of the compromise between Zeus and Hera the goddess of the Earth known as Gea , I create this wonderful paradise and gave it to the happy couples as present to celebrate the union between these two deities.
7. Simile with some points of the universe
There is a beautiful interpretation of the legend of the Hespérides, which ensures that each component of this garden in meant an element of nature. Thus, the dragon is the horizon, the golden apples the stars and the Hespérides themselves are the afternoon hours . With a little imagination and logic, we can say that Hercules is the Sun because when it reaches the garden the apples disappear (stars) and the day arrives.
8. Activities of the Hesperides
While they take care of the beautiful garden of the goddess Hera, these nymphs are dedicated to singing beautiful works and dancing around the tree from which the famous apples sprout. They are lovers of poetry and enjoy watching the sunset .
9. His role changed in the Roman Empire
In classical Greece, the Hesperides were religious characters since they were in complete harmony with some of the most important deities of the Greek universe. All this changed when the Roman Empire arrived, as its role was quite degraded and the garden of the Hesperides was like a myth or legend that was used to decorate literature in the Middle Ages .
10. They resurfaced in the Renaissance
Like many other subjects, the myth of the Hespérides was reborn in the Enlightenment era. These nymphs were the inspiration of many famous artists, among those who highlighted the very same William Shakespeare . The English genius introduced these nymphs in one of his earliest works that became known as "Lost Love Works".
As you can see, this beautiful myth of the garden of the Hesperides was very present in Classical Greece and was taken up by some of the best dramatists in history. The beauty of Hera's paradisiacal garden, as well as the forbidden fruit that flowed from it, is truly inspiring. Now we would love to hear your opinion about the Hesperides. Do you think they did their job at the moment when Hercules Did he arrive at his garden? Do you think that Hera did well not trusting them? Had you heard about these nymphs from Greek mythology? Write us!