Greek Monsters & Creatures
Ladon
Ladon was the name of a monster in Greek dragon, the guardian of the Golden Apples in the Garden of the Hesperides. Different characters have been named as his parents; these are Ceto and Phorcys; Typhon and Echidna; Gaea on her own; or Hera on her own. One source also mentions him as being the brother of the Nemean Lion.
During the Labours of Heracles, one of the tasks the demigod was given was to steal the golden apples from the Garden of the Hesperides, which was located somewhere in the western corner of the world. After traveling through the Libyan desert and getting assistance by the sun god Helios, Heracles eventually reached the Garden of the Hesperides. There, he killed Ladon, managed to retrieve the golden apples, and returned to Tiryns successfully completing his task. According to a different version of the story, Heracles never went to the Garden, and therefore, never killed the dragon. Instead, he met the father of the Hesperides, the Titan god Atlas, tricked him into retrieving the apples for him and completed the task.
YOU ARE READING
Greek Mythology
RandomGreek mythology is the body of myths and teachings that belong to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. It was a part of the religion i...
