After eight years and one month Herakles was still toiling. Eurystheus originally set him ten tasks but as the king did not count the killing of the Hydra, or cleaning out the Augean Stables, as done properly, he still had two more labours to complete.

This time Eurystheus commanded Herakles to bring him three golden apples, which belonged to Zeus, king of the gods. They grew on a tree in the Garden of Hesperides and were guarded by a hundred-headed dragon. The task seemed quite simple to Herakles except that he did not know the way to the garden. He travelled for many months and was involved in many more adventures on the way.