Heracles stealing the apples of the Hesperides

myminifactory

Although scant details exist about this relief from the Doria Pamphilj Palazzo, we can propose it depicts the Eleventh Labour of Heracles, as he seizes the golden apples from the Hesperides. The tree and bag of fruits carried by the man are telling indicators of this episode, in which Heracles had to retrieve the magical fruits from the Hesperides, also known as "the Nymphs of the Evening". We may surmise it belongs to the early Classical Greek period or possibly the late Archaic period, given its position between both. The nude body and refined definition of hair and beard point towards the Classical period, whereas the still thick appearance of the tree and the character's lower body suggest the Archaic period.