His eleventh labor was to be one of the most hard and dangerous of all. The Hesperides, or Daughters of Evening, were nymphs assigned by the goddess Hera to guard certain apples which were presented by Gaia to Zeus after his marriage with Hera. These were kept in a grove surrounded by a high wall and guarded by an immortal dragon named Ladon, whose many heads spoke simultaneously in a Babel of tongues. The grove was located in some far western land in the mountains named for Atlas. These apples were not, as some have said, in Libya, but among the Hyperborean.

Atlas was a Titan, which is to say a member of the first generation of gods, born of Earth. One of his brothers was Cronus, father of Zeus. Atlas made the mistake of siding with Cronus in a war against Zeus. In punishment, he was compelled to support the weight of the heavens by means of a pillar on his shoulders. Hercules, in quest of the apples, had been told that he would never get them without the aid of Atlas.

When Hercules was in his way to fetch the Apples Cycnus, son of Ares, challenged him to single combat near the river Echedorus in Macedonia, but a thunderbolt was hurled between the two and parted them.

Later on Hercules seized Nereus while he slept, and though he changed into all kinds of shapes, Hercules hold him and did not release him until Nereus told the whereabouts of the Apples and the Hesperides.

As he was marching towards the land of Hesperides he arrived in mount Caucasus. On this mountain was where Zeus ordered Hephaestus to chained Prometheus and nail him on a rock to punish him for he had stolen fire from the gods and gave it to man. Premetheus was bound for many years and every single day an eagle came to him and devoured his liver, which grew by night. In that way was Prometheus punished for the theft of fire.

Hercules was very touched by the torment of Prometheus that with an arrow killed the eagle and released the benefactor of men. Prometheus thanking Hercules he asked him where was he going and Hercules explained to him that he was after the golden apples of Hesperides.

- You will not make it, said Prometheus.

- Why, is it so difficult? asked Hercules!

- Do not enter Heras' garden, for any mortal man who enters dies. Near the garden you will find Atlas who is immortal and he is holding the heavens so that they would not touch the earth. Take his place, and ask him to enter the garden and fetch the apples to you.

Hercules thanked Prometheus for his advice and marched for the Hesperides. After many days he arrived on a tall mountain where Atlas was holding the heavens day and night.

- What is it that you seek human on this place? asked Atlas.

Hercules explained his task to the Titan and asked of his help. The Titan was only too happy to oblige, since it meant being relieved of his burden. But first, Hercules would have to do something about the noisily vigilant dragon, Ladon. This was swiftly accomplished by means of an arrow over the garden wall.

So Hercules hold the pillar while he went into the garden of the Hesperides to retrieve the fruit. It was not long after that Atlas returned with the apples that he stolen, and saw Hercules holding the heavens that he realized how pleasant it was not to have to strain for eternity keeping heaven and earth apart.

- Thank you, said Hercules, now come and take your place.

But the Titan shacked his head negatively.

- Now that I have found someone to replace me, do you think I am stupid to get back there? Anyway thank you Hercules for redeeming me of this martyrdom.

But Hercules who was much more clever than the Titan said to him.

- Ok my friend, I will stay and hold the heavens, but since I am not used to it yet and it's pressing my head could you hold them for a while so that I can go and get a pillow for my head?

Atlas believed Hercules and hold up heavens once again on his shoulders. Hercules then took the Hesperides apples and strolled off, omitting to return.

Hercules fetched the apples to Eurystheus, but the king was afraid to keep them so he offered them to goddess Athena.