Garden of Hesperides

The Hesperides are three nymphs in Greek mythology who tended to the Goddess Hera’s garden in the far western corner of the world. They were also known as the Daughters of the Evening.

The Garden of Hesperides was reputed to be an orchard that grew golden apples which granted immortality when eaten. The trees were planted from branches given to Hera by Gaia as a wedding gift when she married Zeus. It is from this orchard that the golden apple that featured in the Judgement of Paris myth was taken and which subsequently led to the Trojan War.

It was thought that the ‘golden apples’ might actually have been oranges, which were unknown in Europe until the Middle Ages.