HESPERIDES, in Greek mythology, maidens who guarded the golden apples which Earth gave Hera on the occasion of her marriage to Zeus. According to Hesiod (Theogony, 215) they were the daughters of Erebus and Night ; in later accounts, of Atlas and Hesperis, or of Phorcys and Ceto (Schol. on Apoll. Rhod. iv. Diod. Sic. iv. 27). They were usually supposed to be three in number—Aegle, Erytheia, Hesperis (or Hesperethusa) ; accord ing to some, four, or even seven. They lived far away in the west at the borders of Ocean, where the sun sets. Hence the sun (ac cording to Mimnermus ap. Athenaeum xi. p. 47o) sails in the golden bowl made by Hephaestus from the abode of the Hesperides to the land where he rises again. According to other accounts their home was among the Hyperboreans. The golden apples grew on a tree guarded by Ladon, the ever-watchful dragon. As this is the nz me of an Arcadian river, Arcadia is possibly the original site of the garden. Heracles (see HERCULES) slew the dragon and stole the apples. The golden apples, the gift of Aphrodite to Hippo menes before his race with Atalanta, were plucked from the garden of the Hesperides. (See also Ems.)