Hesperides - Hesperi (English spelling)

In Greek mythology, they are minor deities meaning "daughters of the evening." There are various theories about their lineage, such as that they were the daughters of Nyx (night), Zeus and Themis, or Atlas. The number of deities is also said to be between three and seven. Hera, who received a golden apple as a gift from the goddess Gaia to celebrate her marriage to Zeus, planted it in a garden and had the Hesperides and the dragon Ladon guard it closely. This is the "Garden of the Hesperides," and its location is also variously said to be beyond Oceanus at the western edge of the world, or in the land of the Hyperboreans (the people of the far north), around the Atlas Mountains. Berenice (Bengazi) in Roman times was also called the "Garden of the Hesperides." The apples from this garden were once stolen by Hercules.

[Tetsuro Nakatsuka]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ギリシア神話で、「夕べの娘たち」の意味の下位神格。ニクス（夜）の娘、あるいはゼウスとテミスの娘、アトラスの娘など、系譜は諸説あって定まらない。またその数も3人から7人の間とされる。ゼウスとの結婚の祝いに女神ガイアから黄金のリンゴを贈られたヘラは、これを園に植えてヘスペリデスと竜のラドンに厳重に監視させた。これが「ヘスペリデスの園」であるが、その場所も世界の西の果てオケアノスのかなた、またはヒペルボレオイ（極北人）の国、アトラス山脈あたりなどとさまざまに説かれる。ローマ時代のベレニケ（ベンガジ）も「ヘスペリデスの園」とよばれた。なおここのリンゴは、ヘラクレスによって一度盗み出された。

［中務哲郎］

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