Atlas and the Hesperides by John Singer Sargent (1921)

John Singer Sargent (1856-1925, American) ~ Sketch for Atlas and the Hesperides, 1922-24

[Source: mfa.org]

Helios' most loved Hesperide

I had a thought after reading your Child of Hera demigod hcs, I feel like Hebe would take her demigod half-sibling to the Garden of Hesperides to protect them from Lamia, what do you think?

Aforementioned Child of Hera Headcanons: [LINK]

I think it could work but there are a few things to consider if you want this to work within the PJO universe and ‘canon’ plotline: 

PRE-(SECOND) TITAN WAR: I don’t think it would work as well as you might think in this timeline as the canon plot of the entire Percy Jackson and the Olympian series starts. This is because in the 3rd book “The Titan’s Curse”, we see the Garden of Hesperides; where Zoe Nightshade and Percy have to get past the garden and the Hesperides and Ladon to get to Annabeth, Artemis, and fight Atlas. I could see it being a plot point where if Hebe did indeed take Hera-Demigod to the Garden, where its all good for a bit, but until the wars begins to form and either the Hera-demigod is threatened by the Titans and Luke; either manipulated to join them against the gods, kidnapped and held hostage, and etc. It could be another plot point adding in that Luke would notice the Hera-demigod when he went to pick the golden apples from the quest by Hermes. He would be surprised like anyone that Hera would have a demigod but also furious/jealous that why does the Hera-demigod get to be taken by their godly sibling and sheltered in the Garden of Hesperides from the monsters while everyone other demigod is forgotten and left to fight/die by the monsters. I can also see this being used as fuel for Luke to convince the unclaimed demigods about how unfair the gods are and potentially, make the other children angry at the gods and the Hera-demigod for the clear favouritism. The children of Hebe, those who were unclaimed then and those later would still feel bitter at Hebe and Hera-demigod even more-so. If the Hera-demigod hasn’t run-away due to the dangers and Lamia hot on her heels after learning after her location from the war, I can see the child of Hera either being a quest to be rescued and escorted to camp or where they have to fight their way to safety to either camps. The Hesperides would’ve been forced to let go the child of Hera from their protection and care either by Atlas, Luke, the Titan army, etc, either way. 

POST TITAN WAR: The part where the children of Hebe being bitter at Hebe and the Hera-demigod would still be relevant; regardless Hebe brought her mortal sibling on her own accord or on the command of Hera. Cause, regardless of the time it takes place, the animosity would still apply. There’s also the addition that while the child of Hera may not be officially part of the “Big Three”, they’re still around that level and just as dangerous and powerful. So there’s a big plot point of why the Hera-demigod is allowed to be sheltered at the Garden and being the exception and everyone’s emotions to it. However long they may be there for, they can’t stay there forever. Whether it’s because of the age and the Garden unable to protect them much longer, the Titans, or what have you, they still have to get to Camp to properly learn, be safe, and most importantly, be able to live. Even Lupa couldn’t/wouldn’t keep any of the child Demigods in their care for that long before they have to set foot outside. So again with the Quest thing where certain heroes have to rescue/escort the Hera-demigod to Camp, facing Lamia, and etc. There’s also the whole thing to consider where they were for the whole Second Giant War; especially with the whole involvement of Hera/Juno with Percy and Jason, Frank Zhang and his life tied to the stick of wood, etc etc.

Overall, it’s a good premise and opens up to a lot of fanfic if people ever so desired to write it. If I was in a position to write a long fanfic about it, I would go about it either way. The Hera-demigod would still function as a hero that Hera would have to use in her quests and stuff, so I don’t think keeping them in the Garden could be a long term thing anyways. There’s also the addition that the child of Hera won’t be alone in either pre- or post-titan war; because if Zoe Nightshade is added in as one of the Hesperides, then I don’t see why not have another Hesperides around that goes on to accompany/protect the Hera-demigod because they got attached. There are a whole lists of variations of the named Hesperides and how many they are, so you have your pick of names.

Thanks for the lovely idea and the ask!

Letter rack painted by Kate Greenaway, c. 1882-1886. x

Hesperid

Image © Paizo Publishing. Accessed at Archives of Nethys here

[I was not expecting Paizo to make a specific fey based on the Hesperides from Greek mythology instead of just making them nymphs, but I like it.]

Hesperid CR 9 LN Fey This humanoid woman has a radiant beauty, her hair and skin colors reminiscent of the light of a sunset. She has long pointed ears and no pupils, marking her fey nature.

The hesperids are fey creatures that guard areas of natural beauty in the mortal realm. They are tied to the setting sun, and their domains always include a good view of the sunset. Hesperids also guard other objects as well—treasures prized by the fey or druidic circles, or historical relics thought lost. These prizes are disguised as golden apples, often mixed with mere trash disguised the same way in order to thwart robbery. More powerful hesperids may guard magical artifacts. In order to defend their landscape and their treasures, hesperids will fight, using conjured sunlight like a druid wields a flame blade.

Because of their ties to the regular cycle of the planet’s orbit, hesperids have lawful minds. Other fey sometimes see them as stodgy, but also respect their reliability and even tempers. Hesperids get along well with most lawful outsiders, as well as bronze and gold dragons, and are stern opponents of forces of undeath. They recognize that darkness has its place in the cosmic order, but are most comfortable in bright lights.

Hesperid Boons and Banes (CL 13th, DC 23) The most likely boon a hesperid would give to a mortal would be a lesser treasure, typically exchanged for something more relevant to the fey, plus access to the hesperid’s healing magic. Still, some are charmed by mortal artistry, and give their blessings as patrons of the arts. Those who try to steal from a hesperid are sometimes cursed with permanent blindness.

Boon: The glow of the hesperid fills your heart. You gain a +1 sacred bonus to all saving throws, and a +4 competence bonus to all Craft and Perform checks. This bonus lasts for 1 week. Bane: You are permanently blinded. The blindness can be removed with remove blindness or a similar effect, but returns with the sunrise each day unless it is removed with a break enchantment, limited wish, wish or miracle

Hesperid        CR 9 XP 6,400 LN Medium fey Init +6; Senses low-light vision, Perception +23 Defense AC 23, touch 23, flat-footed 16(+6 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 deflection) hp 110 (13d6+65) Fort +8, Ref +14, Will +12 DR 10/cold iron Defensive Abilities unearthly grace; Weakness sunset dependent Offense Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (good) Melee sunset ribbon +13/+8 touch (1d10+6 plus 1d6 fire) Ranged sunset ribbon +13 touch (1d10+6 plus 1d6 fire) Spell-like Abilities CL 13th, concentration +19 (+23 casting defensively) At will—daylight, veil (DC 22, self only) 3/day—cure critical wounds (DC 20), quickened glitterdust (DC 18), searing light Statistics Str 11, Dex 22, Con 19, Int 18, Wis 19, Cha 22 Base Atk +7; CMB +7; CMD 36 Feats Alertness, Combat Casting,Defensive Combat Training, Dodge, Quicken SLA (glitterdust),Toughness, Weapon Finesse Skills Acrobatics +21, Bluff +21, Climb +15, Diplomacy +21, Fly +25, Intimidate +18, Knowledge (geography, local, nature) +19, Knowledge (arcana, history) +16, Perception +23, Perform (any one) +21, Sense Motive +23, Stealth + 21 Languages Common, Sylvan, Utopian SQ golden apple Ecology Environment any coastal or hills Organization solitary or enclave (2-6) Treasure double standards Special Abilities Golden Apple (Su) As a standard action, a hesperid can transform any object of up to 10 cubic feet of material into a golden apple weighing 1 pound. This lasts until the hesperid dismisses the effect as a standard action or if the item has spent 24 hours outside of the hesperid’s bonded location. Sunset Dependent (Su) A hesperid is mystically bonded to a location that has a good view of the sunset under ideal conditions—cliffs, islands and valleys are common sites. A hesperid that leaves this area, or who is not outside when the sun sets in that area (even if she can’t see, or if weather hides the sun), takes 1d6 points of Constitution drain per day. A hesperid can bind to a new location with a 24 hour ritual. Sunset Ribbon (Su) A hesperid can conjure a ribbon of sunlight as a swift action, and dismiss it as a swift action. With this ribbon, she can make melee touch attacks as an attack action, or may snap it like a whip as a standard action to fire a ray up to 180 feet. Regardless of how the hesperid uses it to attack, the sunset ribbon deals 1d10 points of slashing damage modified by the hesperid’s Charisma modifier and 1d6 fire damage. Undead, or other creatures with negative energy affinity, take an additional 1d6 points of damage. Unearthly Grace (Su) A hesperid gains her Charisma modifier as a deflection bonus to AC and CMD.

Legends and myths about trees

Legendary tree deities (6)

Golden apples of the Hesperides (Ref)

The Golden Apples in the Garden of Hesperides were a wedding gift to Hera from Gaia and were protected by a fearsome hundred-headed serpent called Ladon. The Apples as well as the rest of the life in the Garden were tended by the Hesperides, dryads (Ref2) and daughters of the Titan, Atlas.

The Garden itself rested in an inaccessible spot near the edge of the world under the power of the Olympians. For his Eleventh Labor, Hercules was sent to the Garden to retrieve three Golden Apples for King Eurystheus.

Heracles had to first find where the garden was, and he asked Nereus for help. He came across Prometheus on his journey. Prometheus had been punished by Zeus and bound to Mt. Caucasus for teaching humans how to use fire. Heracles shot the eagle eating at his liver, and rescued him. In return he helped Heracles with knowledge that the Hesperides were the daughters of his brother Atlas and he would know where the garden was.

While Atlas had lost his battle with the gods and continued to carry the sky, he offered him help with the apples in condition that if he would hold up the sky while he was gone. Atlas tricked him and did not return. Heracles returned the trickery and managed to get Atlas taking the burden of the heavens once again, snatched the Apples and left. After the ordeal, Athena took the Apples from Eurystheus and returned them to the Garden, anticlimactically.

The Golden Apples of the Hesperides bear a striking resemblance to the Golden Apples present in Norse mythology. The apples in both cases are solid gold, beautiful to behold, and grant immortality. An obvious symbol they represent is immortality because it is the power they grant when eaten. The trials of Hercules to obtain the Golden Apples only for them to be promptly taken away from Eurystheus are representative of the futility of attempting to attain immortality. The Golden Apples belonged to the gods and the gods easily took them back. In other words, immortality and the Apples only belonged to the gods and not to mortals.

伝説の樹木の神々 (6)

ヘスペリデスの黄金のリンゴ（参照）

ヘスペリデスの園にある黄金のリンゴは、ガイアからヘラへの婚礼の贈り物で、ラードーンという恐ろしい百頭の大蛇に守られていた。リンゴと庭園の他の生物は、タイタン、アトラースの娘であるドリュアデス（参照2）のヘスペリデスたちによって管理されていた。

その庭園は、オリンポスの神々の力を借りて、世界の果てに近いアクセス困難な場所にあった。ヘーラクレースは11番目の労働として、エウリュステウス王のために3つの黄金のリンゴを取り戻すために庭園に送られた。

ヘーラクレースはヘスペリデスの庭の場所を探すため、ネーレウスに助けを求めた。そして、その旅の途中で、人間に火の使い方を教えたためにゼウスに罰せられてカウカーソス山に縛り付けられていたプロメーテウスに出くわした。ヘーラクレースは彼の肝臓を食べていた鷲を射殺し、プロメーテウスを救出した。プロメーテウスはそのお返しに、自分の弟のアトラースが庭の場所を知っているだろうと、ヘーラクレースに協力した。ヘスペリデスは彼の弟の娘たちであった。

アトラースは、自分がいない間、天を支えてくれるなら、リンゴの収穫を手伝ってやるとヘーラクレースに条件をつけ、アトラースは彼を騙し、帰らなかった。ヘーラクレースは策略をくつ返し、再びアトラスに天界の重荷を負わせることに成功し、リンゴを奪って立ち去った。試練の後、アテナはエウリュステウスからリンゴを奪い、拍子抜けするほどあっけなく庭園に戻した。

ヘスペリデスの黄金のリンゴは、北欧神話に登場する黄金のリンゴと非常によく似ている。どちらのリンゴも純金で美しく、不老不死をもたらす。食べると力を発揮することから、不老不死を象徴しているのは明らかだ。ヘーラクレースが金のリンゴを手に入れようとしたが、すぐにエウリュステウスから奪われてしまうという試みは、不老不死を手に入れようとすることのむなしさを象徴している。黄金のリンゴは神々のものであり、神々はそれを簡単に取り戻してしまった。つまり、不老不死は神々のものであり、人間のものではなかったのだ。

Why do you associate Hera with sunsets?

Specifically sunsets? Because of the golden apples and the Hesperides.

When Hera married Zeus she was gifted the golden apples which she placed in her garden, and the golden apples were guarded by the nymphai Hesperides (who were then watched by the dragon Ladon because they kept eating them lol). The Hesperides are the nymphs of the sunset, and Hera’s garden is often believed to be placed somewhere in Libya or Morocco ie. west of Greece and where the sun sets. Even if we ignore that one myth telling, Hera is always associated with the Hesperides specifically. It’s a chicken or egg scenario tbh.

Hera is also named the goddess of the skies and heavens, probably because of her association with Zeus.

But in a more poetic way, sunsets are the time for love. When do we prefer to go on dates? To put down our tools for the day and sit with family and friends for dinner, to relax. To turn off the lights and climb into bed with the person bound in marriage beside you. To strip off clothing, crawl under the covers and be intimate with someone.

Besides. You can’t look at the play of colours across the sky as it deepens into night and tell me that’s not divine.

I associate Hera with sunsets because it just makes sense.

"Feyfolk in Hesperis"

I'm attending an indie comic event in Zwolle, Netherlands tomorrow to sell stuff too. Managed to finish the goblin comic too, titled "Grand Tour in Dwarfland"

I HAVE NEVER dealt with my feelings about a Punchdrunk show closing by getting creative in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.....

..... well, not more than twice

Perseus in the Garden of the Hesperides, from Andrew Lang’s Tales of Troy and Greece by Henry Justice Ford (1907)

apple + hesperides

Edward Burne Jones      Garden of Hesperides      ca.1869

Hesperides

The Hesperides are nymph-goddesses of the evening and the west in Greek mythology. They were the daughters of Atlas, the Titan who bore the heavens on his shoulders, and Hesperis, the personification of the west, or Nyx, the personification of the night. Other stories list their parents as Phorcys, a sea god and the sea monster Ceto.

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So a while back, my friend @shyyren Showed me This Post and even went out of ver way to assign my ocs to each part. The assignments were spot on, and the chaotic cafeteria discussion just demanded to be drawn. So I drew it!!

Come visit the SPC, the only hero organization around where you'll be spontaneously handed mangoes by random passerby