The hero tasked with retrieving golden apples in a famous myth is Heracles, or Hercules, in Roman mythology. This labor forms part of his Twelve Labors, where he must obtain these apples from the Hesperides, guarded by a dragon. The golden apples symbolize immortality and the rewards of perseverance. Heracles' quest highlights themes of valor, determination, and the pursuit of the unattainable, common in heroic narratives across different cultures.