| C h a p t e r  η  |
| G a r d e n  o f  H e s p e r i d e s |

“IN THE FAR RECESSES OF THE WORLD, THERE WAS A SACRED GARDEN, GUARDED BY NOT ONLY THE HUNDRED-HEADED DRAGON LADON, BUT ALSO THE HESPERIDES AND ATLAS, THE TITAN WHO WAS CONDEMNED TO HOLD UP THE SKY FOR ETERNITY. TOGETHER, THEY LOOKED AFTER THE SACRED GOLDEN APPLE TREE. IT WAS LIKE HEAVEN THERE—EVERYTHING LOOKED EXCEPTIONALLY BEAUTIFUL. GOLDEN APPLES WERE SACRED, BUT ONCE THEY WERE TAKEN AWAY, THEIR HOLY EXISTENCE WOULD TURN INTO BAD OMEN.

HESIOD’S THEOGONY 744: “IN THE DEPTHS OF THE DARK EARTH, AT THE END OF THE WORLD, GUARDING THE GOLDEN APPLES.”


LED BY DECISION AND DESTINY, WE FUMBLE IN THE DARK ALONG WITH A GOLDEN THREAD, AND ARRIVE AT THIS MAGNIFICENT PARADISE. PERHAPS THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A DESTINATION, BUT MAYBE IT IS ALSO AN ILLUSION FROM CHAOS.”