the "Garden of the Hesperides," a mythological garden guarded by a dragon, representing a hidden or sacred space where profound wisdom or the elixir of life (often symbolized as golden apples or a fountain) can be attained.
"it is our true, secret vessel, and the Garden of the Sages, in which our Sun rises and sets."
- Philalethes - Metamorphosis of Metals
"The entrance of the Philosophers' garden is kept by the Hesperian Dragon, which being put aside, a Fountain of the dearest water proceeding from a sevenfold spring floweth forth on every side of the entrance of the garden; wherein make the Dragon drink thrice the magical number of Seven, until having drunk he put off his hideous garments; then may the divine powers of light-bringing Venus and horned Diana, be propitious unto thee"
- The secret work of the hermetic philosophy Wherein the secrets of nature and art concerning the matter of the philosophers' stone and the manner of working are explained in an authentic and orderly manner. The work of an anonymous author
"Within the golden portal
of the garden of the Wise,
Watching by the seven sprayed fountain,
the Hesperian Dragon lies.
Like the ever-burning Branches
In the dream of holy seer;
Like the types of Asia's churches,
Those glorious jets appear.
Three times the magic waters
Must the Winged Dragon drain,
Then his scales shall burst asunder
And his heart be reft in twain.
Forth shall flow an emanation,
Forth shall spring a shape divine,
And if Sol and Cynthia aid thee,
Shall the charmed Key be thine."
- The Song of the Spirit, William Harrison Ainsworth
"[...] you are also worthy of being able to gather the golden apples of the Hesperides in the garden of Tantalus, first having made the always watchful dragon unconscious, as the legends urge. But, as that garden is fenced in by an extremely strong wall, the question has to be put: "In what way can you enter the garden? And how do you recognize the tree bearing the golden apples? And in what way do you gather them?"
- Greverus, from Theatrum Chemicum, Volume III
"Our Matter is one of the commonest things upon earth, and contains within itself the four elements. It is, indeed, nothing short of marvellous that so many seek so ordinary a thing, and yet are unable to find it. We might put down many other characteristics of this Salt, but I prefer to leave the further elaboration of this subject to the reader, and to confine myself to a more detailed account of its fruits, entrance, and life, of the mode of opening the garden, and catching a glimpse of the glorious roses, of the way in which they multiply, and bear fruit a thousand-fold"
- The Glory Of The World
"Mind this well; for this is it which is the second key of the work, the mystery of mysteries and the essential point of this sacred science. It is it which opens the doors of justice and the prisons of Hell, says Cosmopolita. In fine, it is by the means of this operation that we see this precious fountain flow from the foot of this flourishing rose tree [or rose-garden for the original signifies either] from which only the philosophers have the good fortune to drain this celestial liquor."
- The letter of a philosopher concerning the secret of the great work. Transcribed from British Library MS. Sloane 3640, by John O'Brien
"After a while, I fell into another deep sleep, in which I saw Neptune standing over me, congratulating me on our happy meeting in the Garden of the Hesperides. He held up to me a mirror, in which I saw the whole of Nature unveiled. After we had exchanged a few remarks, I thanked him for conducting me to this beautiful garden, and introducing me to the company of Saturn; and I heartily besought him to resolve for me the difficulties and doubts which Saturn had left uncleared. "For instance," I said, " I have read and believe that for every act of generation a male and a female are required; and yet Saturn spoke of generation by placing the Solar fruit in the water, or Mercury of the Sages. What did he mean?"
- Sendivogius - The New Chemical Light
"When I passed before the Garden, I was not clothed in silk, but arrayed in sorry garments, that I might not in public appear naked; and diverting myself with a desire to chase away unpleasant thoughts, I heard an harmonious song of many grateful birds. Then I beheld the entrance of the garden which was shut, but as I judged by my sight, Zephyrus soon opened it."
- The Fountain of the Lovers of the Science, by John Fountain
The Hesperian Dragon
In the excerpt from The Hermetic Arcanum, the Hesperian Dragon guards the Philosophers’ Garden, where the fountain of clear water (wisdom and life) flows. This dragon must be confronted, fed, and transformed:
- Drinking Thrice Seven Times: This act symbolizes the repeated purification and harmonization of the elements within the alchemical process.
- Shedding Garments: The dragon’s transformation reflects the alchemist’s own spiritual and material purification.
- ”The entrance of the Philosophers’ garden is kept by the Hesperian Dragon, which, being put aside, reveals a fountain of the clearest water proceeding from a sevenfold spring. This fountain flows forth on every side of the garden’s entrance. Within this sacred space, make the Dragon drink thrice the magical number of seven, until, having drunk, he puts off his hideous garments. Then, may the divine powers of light-bringing Venus and horned Diana be propitious unto thee. *Three kinds of most beautiful flowers are to be sought and may be found in this Garden of the Wise: Damask-coloured Violets, the milk-white Lily, and the purple and immortal flower of love, the Amaranth. Not far from the fountain at the entrance, fresh violets will first greet thee. These violets, watered by streams from the great golden river, take on the most delicate colour of the dark sapphire. At this point, Sol will give thee a sign. Thou shalt not sever such precious flowers from their roots until thou makest the Stone. For when freshly cropped, they contain more juice and tincture. Carefully pluck them with a gentle and discreet hand. If the Fates do not frown, this will follow easily. One white flower being plucked, the golden one will not be wanting. Let the Lily and the Amaranth follow with still greater care and longer labour. Philosophers have their sea as well, wherein small fishes, plump and shining with silver scales, are generated. He who entangles and captures them with a fine and small net shall be regarded as a most expert fisherman. *The Philosophers’ Stone is said to be found in the oldest mountains and flows from everlasting brooks. Those mountains are of silver, and the brooks are even of gold. From these, gold, silver, and all the treasures of kings are produced. *Whoever wishes to obtain the Philosophers’ Stone must resolve to undertake a long pilgrimage. It is necessary to journey to both the Indies, so as to gather the most precious gems and the purest gold from those distant lands. *Philosophers extract their Stone out of seven stones, the two chief among them being of diverse natures and efficacies. One infuses invisible Sulphur, the other spiritual Mercury. The former induces heat and dryness; the latter, cold and moisture. By their combined influence, the strength of the elements is multiplied within the Stone. The first stone is found on the Eastern coast, while the second is found in the Western. Both possess the power of colouring and multiplying, and unless the Stone takes its first tincture from them, it will neither colour nor multiply." — The Hermetic Arcanum, c. 1623
