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LadonGG

Ladon guarding the apples of immortality

The Apples of Immortality are golden apples that grow in the Garden of the Hesperides. They are guarded by the dragon Ladon, and was a wedding gift to Hera from Gaea.

History[]

Hera's Wedding Gift[]

Hera

Hera, owner of the apples

At the wedding of Zeus and Hera, a sapling bearing the apples of immortality burst from the ground, which Hera immediately recognized as a gift from her grandmother Gaea. She ordered the tree to be planted in a garden at the farthest western corner of the earth, right at the feet of the Titan Atlas. His daughters, the Hesperides, guarded the tree with Ladon.

Hercules' Twelve Labors[]

Hercules

Hercules, a hero who retrieved the apples

As his eleventh labor, Hercules was instructed to steal the apples of immortality. He is helped on his quest by the Hespirid Zoë Nightshade, who tells him to trick her father Atlas into getting the apples for him, as Ladon is too strong to overcome.

Later, Hercules takes on the burden of the sky, freeing Atlas who successfully retrieves the apples from the Garden of the Hesperides. However, he tricks the Titan General into holding up the sky once more, completing his quest without so much as giving credit to Zoë for her help.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians[]

The Lightning Thief[]

A bitter Luke tells Percy Jackson about his quest and the aftermath of it.

The Titan's Curse[]

Percy Jackson dreamt Zoë instructing Hercules how to steal the apples of immortality.

Later when Percy, Thalia Grace, and Zoë enter the Hesperides' Garden, they see the golden apples being guarded by the sleeping Ladon.

Appearance[]

The apples of immortality grow on a five-story-tall apple tree and are described as glittering golden apples that gave off an appealing fragrance, so much that Percy Jackson knew that one bite would be the "most delicious thing [he'd] ever tasted".

Trivia[]

  • In The Titan's Curse, Thalia mistakenly says the apples of immortality was a wedding gift from Zeus to Hera, when it was in fact Gaea who gave it.
  • The Norse Gods maintain their immortality with similar golden apples provided by Idunn, the Norse goddess of Spring and Youth.
Items
Personal Weapons: Riptide | Annabeth's Knife | Backbiter | Master Bolt | Poseidon's Trident | Nico's Sword | Thalia's Spear | Aegis | Ares' Sword | Ares' Shield | Caduceus | Apollo's Golden Bow | Silver Bow | Artemis' Knives | Hades' Sword | Hades' Staff | Kronos' Scythe | Ivlivs | Katoptris | Hazel's Spatha | Frank's Spear | Reyna's Spear | Juno's Gladius | Annabeth's Sword | Sumarbrander | Gungnir | Gjallar | Mjolnir | Gríðarvölr | Khopesh | Mallory's Serrated Knives | Meg's Twin Imperial Gold siccae blades | Thyrsus | Hecate's Torches | Minotaur's Axe | Leroy's Sword | Tyson's Javelin | Alex's Garrote Wire | Piper's Sword
Magical Items: Annabeth's Yankees Cap | Helm of Darkness | Pandora's Pithos | Winged Shoes | Golden Fleece | Flying Chariot | Golden Apple | Apples of Immortality | Greek Fire | Hermes' Multivitamins | Nectar and Ambrosia | Stygian Ice Whistle | Keys of Hades | Leo's Magical Toolbelt | Serapis' Staff | Magic 8 Ball | Arrow of Dodona | Pig Ball | Mechanical Spider | Angel Statues | Athena Parthenos | Chiron's Wheelchair | Diocletian's Scepter | Flaming Dodgeball | Gleipnir | Poseidon's Pearls | Queen Hippolyta's Belt | Mistletoe Arrow | Frank's Stick | Expand-o-Duck | Caligula's Caligae | Ran's Net | Rune Stones | Nábrók | Pomegranate
Spoils of War: Minotaur's Horn | Medusa's Head | Kampê's Scimitars | Nemean Lion's Pelt | Gorgon Blood | Cornucopia | Lydian Drakon Hide | Phineas' Robe and Slippers | Triptolemus's Almanac | Odysseus' Astrolabe
Items: Camp Necklace | Chameleon Armor | Daedalus' Laptop | Golden drachma | Denarius | Red Gold | Mark of Athena | Thalia's Shield | Video Shield | Wristwatch Shield | Golden Mango | Sibylline Books | Letter of Recommendation
Ships Amos' Boat | Argo II | CSS Birmingham | Egyptian Queen | Julia Drusilla Yachts | Pax | Queen Anne's Revenge | Reed Boat | Naglfar | Gorgyra's Canoe
Blessed Metals: Adamantine | Celestial Bronze | Imperial Gold | Stygian Iron | Bone Steel
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