Ladon
The Dragon that guarded the famous Golden Apples
LADON THE HESPERIAN DRAGON
Ladon was amongst the most famous of the dragons talked of in Greek mythology. Ladon was also known as the Hesperian Dragon, for he was to be found in the Garden of the Hesperides, where he guarded the famous Golden Apples.
PARENTAGE OF LADON
Hesiod names Ladon as one of the monstrous offspring of Phorcys and Ceto; Phorcys and Ceto being primordial sea deities of the Greek pantheon. Such parentage would make Ladon a sibling to Echidna, the Aethiopian Cetus and Trojan Cetus.
Alternatively, Hyginus and Apollodorus, indicate that Ladon was a child of Typhon and Echidna; the parents of many of the most famous monsters of Greek mythology, including Cerberus and the Lernaean Hydra.
If the parentage of Ladon was Phorcys and Ceto though, then this would link in with its name, for Ladon can be translated as “strong flow”, and thus Ladon was perhaps therefore the personification of the dangers of strong sea currents.
LADON IN THE GARDEN OF HERA
As with most of the monsters of Greek mythology, Ladon was associated with one geographical place, the mythological Garden of Hera; a place also known as the Garden of the Hesperides.
The Garden of Hera was found at the furthest west corner of the world, on the edge of the waters that was Oceanus, the earth encircling river.
This garden was tended to by the Hesperides nympths, nymphs of the sunset. The Garden of Hera was home to many treasures, but most importantly it was home to the tree, or orchard, that produced the famed Golden Apples of Greek mythology.
The original Golden Apples had been given to Hera by Gaia, upon the marriage of Hera to Zeus.
This tree, or trees, and the Golden Apples required a suitable guard, and whilst the Hesperides tended to the garden, Ladon was tasked with ensuring the security of the garden.
DESCRIPTION OF LADON
In antiquity it was common to consider Ladon as a serpent like dragon, that was normally depicted as encircling a single tree within its coil.
Aristophanes was perhaps the first to talk of Ladon being multi-headed, and thus the imagery developed to present Ladon as a dragon with a hundred heads.
LADON AND HERACLES
Originally Heracles was supposed to complete ten labours for King Eurystheus, but the king discounted two of the original labours, claiming that they were made invalid, but help received in killing the Lernaean Hydra, and in receiving payment for cleaning the Augean Stables. Thus an eleventh Labour was tasked, the retrieval of some Golden Apples.
First, Heracles needed to find out the location of the Garden of Hera, and some say that it was the Titan Atlas who told him the location, whilst others say that it was one of the sea gods of the Mediterranean who gave the location to Heracles.
Heracles would secretly enter the Garden of the Hesperides, but having already faced, and killed many monsters, Ladon was a relatively simple opponent, for Heracles took up his bow and arrow, and simply killed the dragon with a poisoned arrow.
The death of Ladon is also briefly mentioned in the the Argonautica, by Apollonius Rhodius, for a day after the death of Ladon, the Argo was said to have reached the Garden of Hera. There, the Argonauts, listened to the lament of the Hespird Aegle, who despaired at the killing of Ladon, and the theft of the Golden Apples.
LADON AND ATLAS
It was also commonly said though, that Heracles never entered the Garden of the Hesperides, for instead he was said to have held the heavens aloft, in place of Atlas, whilst the Titan completed his Labour for him. With Heracles having to trick Atlas to return the Titan to his former position.
This of course would mean that it was Atlas who killed Ladon, rather than Heracles.
LADON IN THE NIGHT SKY
Upon the death of Ladon, it was commonly said that Hera placed his likeness amongst the stars for his dedication to her garden, and his attempts to kill Heracles.
Ladon would thus become the constellation Draco.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
Hesiod, Theogony 333 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) :
"Keto (Ceto), joined in love with Phorkys (Phorcys), mothered the youngest of the deadly Drakones (Dragon-Serpents), that one who at the gloomy great hidden limits of the earth guards the all-golden apples[i.e. the Hesperian Drakon] ."
Aristophanes, Frogs 475 ff (trans. O'Neill) (Greek comedy C5th to 4th B.C.) :
"[Aiakos (Aeacus), the doorman of Haides, threatens Dionysos in the Underworld :] ‘The black hearted Stygian rock and the crag of Akheron (Acheron) dripping with gore can hold you; and the circling hounds of Kokytos (Cocytus) and the hundred-headed serpent (ekhidna) [i.e. the Hesperian Drakon] shall tear your entrails; your lungs will be attacked by the Myraina Tartesia (the Tartesian Eel) [Ekhidna (Echidna)], your kidneys bleeding with your very entrails the Gorgones Teithrasiai (Tithrasian Gorgons) will rip apart.’"
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 113 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"An immortal serpent guarded them [the golden apples], the child of Typhon and Ekhidna (Echidna), with one hundred heads which spoke with voices of various types."
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 121 :
"Some say, however, that he [Herakles] did not take the apples from Atlas, but killed the snake that guarded them, and picked them himself."
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4. 1390 ff (trans. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) :
"They [the Argonauts] found the sacred plot where, till the day before, the serpent Ladon, a son of the Libyan soil, had kept watch over the golden apples in the Garden of Atlas, while close at hand and busy at their tasks the Hesperides sang their lovely song. But now the snake, struck down by Herakles, lay by the trunk of the apple-tree. Only the tip of his tail was still twitching; from the head down, his dark spine showed not a sign of life. His blood had been poisoned by arrows steeped in the gall of the Lernaian Hydra, and flies perished in the festering wounds . . .
[The Hesperis Aigle (Hesperid Aegle) addresses the Argonauts :] ‘There was a man here yesterday, an evil man, who killed the watching snake, stole our golden apples, and is gone. To us he brought unspeakable sorrow . . . [he carried] the bow and arrows with which he shot our monster here.’"
Aratus, Phaenomena 45 ff (trans. Mair) (Greek astronomical poem C3rd B.C.) :
"As it were the branch of a river circles in wondrous way the [Constellation] Drakon (Draco, the Dragon), winding infinite around and about; on either side of his coil are borne along the Bears, that shun evermore the blue sea. Now towards the one he stretches the end of his tail, but with the coil he intercepts the Lesser Bear. The tip of his tail ends by the head of Helike (Helice), but in the coil Kynosoura (Cynosura) has her head. For his coil circles past her very head and comes near her feet, but again, turning back, runs upward. Not one lone star shines on his head, but on his brows are tow stars lit, and two in his eyes, and one beneath is set upon the chin-point of the dread monster. Aslant is his head, and he seems most like as if he were nodding to the tip of the tail of Helike; his mouth and right temple straight confront the end of her tail. That head wheels near where the limits of setting and rising blend."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 6. 19. 8 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"[Wooden images dedicated at the sanctuary of Olympia :] The third of the treasuries . . . showing the heavens upheld by Atlas, and also Herakles and the apple-tree of the Hesperides, with the Drakon (Dragon) coiled round the apple-tree. These too are of cedar-wood, and are works of Theokles (Theocles), son of Hegylos. The inscription on the heavens says that his son helped him to make it. The Hesperides--they were removed by the Eleans--were even in my time in the Heraion (Heraeum, Temple of Hera); the treasury was made for the Epidamnians."
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4. 26. 2 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :
"[The following is a late Greek rationalisation of the Hesperides myth, in which the drakon becomes a shepherd named Drakon, and the golden apples (mela) are instead a flock of golden sheep (mela) :] The last Labour which Herakles undertook was the bringing back of the golden apples of the Hesperides, and so he again sailed to Libya. With regard to these apples there is disagreement among the writers of myths, and some say that there were golden apples in certain gardens of the Hesperides in Libya, where they were guarded without ceasing by a most formidable Drakon, whereas others assert that the Hesperides possessed flocks of sheep which excelled in beauty and . . . the sheep had a peculiar colour like gold that they got this designation, and the Drakon (Dragon) was the name of the shepherd of the sheep, a man who excelled in strength of body and courage, who guarded the sheep and slew any who might dare try to carry them off. But with regards to such matters it will be every man's privilege to form such opinions as accord with his own belief. At any rate Herakles slew the guardian of the apples [Drakon]."
Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 6. 256 ff (trans. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) :
"[Depicted on the shield of Eurypylos, the son of Herakles :] There were the Golden Apples wrought, that gleamed in the Hesperides' garden undefiled : all round the fearful Drakon's (Dragon's) dead coils lay, and shrank the Maids [Hesperides] aghast from Zeus' bold son."
Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 2. 17 (trans. Fairbanks) (Greek rhetorician C3rd A.D.) :
"This creature [the drakon (dragon)] is said to be devoted to gold and whatever golden thing it sees it loves and cherishes; thus the fleece in Kolkhis (Colchis) and the apples of the Hesperides, since they seemed to be of gold, two drakones (dragon-serpents) that never slept guarded and claimed as their own."
Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 2. 21 :
"Herakles has already secured the golden apples . . . and has won renown for his exploit among the Hesperides--to overcome them was not such an amazing feat for Herakles, but rather the drakon (dragon-serpent)."
Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History Book 5 (summary from Photius, Myriobiblon 190) (trans. Pearse) (Greek mythographer C1st to C2nd A.D.) :
"The Drakon (Dragon) which guarded the golden apples was the brother of the Nemean lion."
Pseudo-Hyginus, Preface (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"From Typhon and Echidna [was born] . . . Hesperian Dragon (Draco Hesperidum)."
Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 30 :
"The huge Draco (Dragon), Typhon's son, which used to guard the golden apples of the Hesperides, he [Herakles] killed near Mount Atlas, and brought the apples to King Eurystheus."
Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 151 :
"From Typhon the giant and Echidna were born . . . the Draco which guarded the apples of the Hesperides across Oceanus."
Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 3 :
"Constellation Serpent. This huge serpent is pointed out as lying between the two Bears. He is said to have guarded the golden apples of the Hesperides, and after Hercules killed him, to have been put by Juno [Hera] among the stars, because at her instigation Hercules set out for him. He is considered the usual watchman of the Gardens of Juno. Pherecydes [C5th B.C. mythographer] says that when Jupiter [Zeus] wed Juno, Terra (Earth) [Gaia] came, bearing branches with golden applies, and Juno, in admiration, asked Terra to plant them in her gardens near distant Mount Atlas. When Atlas' daughters kept picking the apples from the trees, Juno is said to have placed this guardian there. Proof of this will be the form of Hercules above the dragon, as Eratosthenes [C3rd B.C. poet] shows, so that anyone may know that for this reason in particular it is called the Draco."
Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 6 :
"The Kneeler [constellation "Hercules"]. Eratosthenes [C3rd BC] says he is Hercules, placed above the Draco (Dragon) we have already mentioned, and prepared to fight, with his left hand holding his lion skin, and his right the club. He is trying to kill the dragon of the Hesperides, which, it is thought, never was overcome by sleep or closed its eyes, thus offering more proof it was placed there as a guard. Panyassis [Greek epic poet C5th B.C.] in the Heraclea says of the sign that Jupiter [Zeus], in admiration of their struggle, placed it among the stars; for the Draco has its head erect, and Hercules, resting on his right knee, tires to crush the right side of its head with his left foot. His right hand is up and striking, his left extended with the lion skin, and he appears to be fighting with all his strength."
Ovid, Metamorphoses 4. 642 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"The giant [Atlas] recalled the oracle which Themis Parnasia had given : ‘Atlas, a time shall come when from your tree the gold shall be despoiled, and of that spoil a son of Jove [Zeus] shall boast.’ In fear he had walled his orchards all around with massive ramparts and for guardian set an enormous Draco (Dragon); and drove off all strangers from the borders of his realm."
Ovid, Metamorphoses 9. 190 ff :
"Your [Herakles] valour secured . . . the apples guarded by the Unsleeping Dragon (Draco Insomnis)."
Virgil, Aeneid 4. 480 (trans. Fairclough) (Roman epic C1st B.C.) :
"Near Oceanus' bound and the setting sun lies Aethiopia (Ethiopia), farthest of lands, where mightiest Atlas on this shoulders turns the sphere, inset with gleaming stars. Thence a priestess of Massylian race . . . warden of the fane of the Hesperides, who gave dainties to the dragon and guarded the sacred bows on the tree, sprinkling dewy honey and slumberous poppies."
Propertius, Elegies 2. 248 (trans. Goold) (Roman elegy C1st B.C.) :
"Let him fetch the apples from the Dracon (Dragon) of the Hesperides."
Seneca, Hercules Furens 239 ff (trans. Miller) (Roman tragedy C1st A.D.) :
"[The labours of Herakles :] Next he essayed the rich grove's dwellings [of the Hesperides] and bore off the watchful dragon's golden spoil."
Seneca, Hercules Furens 526 ff :
"Let Alcmena's son [Herakles] in endless wars employ on monsters the hand that bore the heavens . . . let him bring back the apples from the cheated sisters [the Hesperides] when the Draco (Dragon), set to watch over the precious fruit, has given his ever-waking eyes to sleep.”
Seneca, Medea 700 ff :
"[The witch Medea casts a spell to summon poisonous snakes invoking the names of the greatest of the Drakones (Dragons) :] ‘Hither let that serpent [the Hesperian Dragon, constellation Draco] descend which lies like a vast rushing stream, whose huge folds the two beasts feel, the greater and the less . . . In answer to my incantations let Python come . . . Let Hydra return . . . Thou, too, ever-watchful dragon [of the Golden Fleece].’"
Sources
(Additional) References
Argonautica, Book IV.
Hesiod. Theogony, 333.
Bibliotheke 2.113; Hyginus, Preface to Fabulae.
Recorded in his New History V, lost but epitomized in Photius, Myriobiblion 190.
Pausanias. Description of Greece, 6.19.8.
Diodorus Siculus, 4.26.2.
GREEK
Hesiod, Theogony - Greek Epic C8th - 7th B.C.
Aristophanes, Frogs - Greek Comedy C5th - 4th B.C.
Plato, Ion - Greek Philosophy C4th B.C.
Apollodorus, The Library - Greek Mythography C2nd A.D.
Apollonius Rhodius, The Argonautica - Greek Epic C3rd B.C.
Aratus, Phaenomena - Greek Astronomy C3rd B.C.
Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History - Greek History C1st B.C.
Pausanias, Description of Greece - Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.
Philostratus the Elder, Imagines - Greek Rhetoric C3rd A.D.
Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History - Greek Mythography C1st - 2nd A.D.
Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy - Greek Epic C4th A.D.
ROMAN
Hyginus, Fabulae - Latin Mythography C2nd A.D.
Hyginus, Astronomica - Latin Mythography C2nd A.D.
Ovid, Metamorphoses - Latin Epic C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
Propertius, Elegies - Latin Elegy C1st B.C.
Seneca, Hercules Furens - Latin Tragedy C1st A.D.
Seneca, Medea - Latin Tragedy C1st A.D.
"Greek Legends and Myths"
"Theoi"
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