Heracles (center) stands in profile facing right. He wears his lion skin on his head and draped over his left arm, which is raised protectively across his body. He holds his club in his left hand; his quiver sits on his left hip. His right arm is raised, but vase is damaged and the hand is missing. Ladon is depicted as a snake or snakes wrapped around a tree. Three heads are visible but the damage cuts off the top of the tree making it unclear whether it is one multi-headed monster or several.

Detail of an attic red-figure volute krater (mixing vessel) depicting Heracles fighting the dragon Ladon to retrieve the apples of the Hesperides. The partial figure to the right of the tree has been identified as Atlas. The krater is reconstructed and restored from multiple fragments. Attributed to the Kleophrades Painter.

Online Resources
J. Paul Getty Museum 77.AE.11
Subjects
Heracles
Ladon
Atlas
Type
Image
License
Creative Commons Attribution
Agent
Kleophrades Painter
Date
ca. 500–480 BCE
Culture
Greek
Medium
terracotta
Dimensions
h. 56.9 w. 46.9 cm (22 3/8 × 18 7/16 in.)
Location
J. Paul Getty Museum
Image Credit
J. Paul Getty Museum