---
title: Atlas: The Greek Titan Who Held up the World
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Atlas/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2025-04-18
---
# Atlas: The Greek Titan Who Held up the World
_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_
In [Greek mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Mythology/), the [Titan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Titan/) Atlas was responsible for bearing the weight of the heavens on his shoulders, a burden given to him as punishment by [Zeus](https://www.worldhistory.org/zeus/). Father of many stars and a protagonist in one of [Hercules](https://www.worldhistory.org/hercules/)' famous labours, Atlas was also known as a wise man and the founder of astronomy. For [Plato](https://www.worldhistory.org/plato/), he was the eponymous first king of [Atlantis](https://www.worldhistory.org/atlantis/), and this [giant](https://www.worldhistory.org/Giants/) of a [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/) also gave his name to a huge mountain range in northern [Africa](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/africa/), the great Atlantic Ocean and any large collection of maps.
With a name perhaps conveying the meaning 'suffering' or 'very enduring,' Atlas was the son of the Titans Iapetus and Clymene (or [Themis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Themis/)) and the elder brother of Epimetheus, Menoetius, and [Prometheus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Prometheus/). Atlas was the father of the [nymph](https://www.worldhistory.org/nymph/) Calypso and the seven Pleiades. In a Theban version of events, Atlas is also the grandfather of Niobe.
### Atlas' Punishment from Zeus
Atlas was given the task of holding up the heavens as punishment from Zeus for leading the Titans in their [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) with the Olympian Gods for control of the heavens. In a similar vein, [Homer](https://www.worldhistory.org/homer/) describes Atlas in his *[Odyssey](https://www.worldhistory.org/Odyssey/)* as 'deadly-minded,' as knowing the depths of all the seas, and as holding the pillars far out in the Atlantic Ocean which hold the heavens and earth apart. [Hesiod](https://www.worldhistory.org/hesiod/) in his *[Theogony](https://www.worldhistory.org/Theogony/)* also describes Atlas as holding up the heavens and locates him in the land of the [Hesperides](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hesperides/) (female deities famed for their singing), which was far to the west, at the edge of the world. Later tradition, including [Herodotus](https://www.worldhistory.org/herodotus/), associates the god with the Atlas Mountains in North Africa. It was here that, in punishment for his gross lack of hospitality, the Titan was transformed from a shepherd into a huge rock mountain by [Perseus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Perseus/) using the head of the Gorgon [Medusa](https://www.worldhistory.org/Medusa/) with her deadly stare. This story may go back to the 5th century BCE.
### Atlas & Hercules
Other associations with Atlas are as the father of many constellations, as a source of great wisdom and founder of astronomy, and, by Plato in his *[Critias](https://www.worldhistory.org/Critias/)*, as the original king of Atlantis. Perhaps the most famous myth involving Atlas, though, is his role in one of the celebrated twelve labours of Hercules. The hero was required by Eurystheus to fetch the golden apples from the fabled gardens of the Hesperides, which were sacred to [Hera](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hera/) and guarded by the fearsome hundred-headed dragon Ladon. Following the advice of Prometheus, Hercules asked Atlas (in some versions the father of the Hesperides) to get him the apples while he, with the help of [Athena](https://www.worldhistory.org/athena/), took the world onto his shoulders for a while, giving the Titan a welcome respite. Perhaps understandably, when returning with the golden apples, Atlas was reluctant to reassume the burden of carrying the world. However, the wily Hercules tricked the god into swapping places temporarily while the hero got himself some cushions to more easily bear the tremendous weight. Of course, as soon as Atlas was back holding the heavens, Hercules with his golden booty, hot-footed back to [Mycenae](https://www.worldhistory.org/mycenae/).
[  The Farnese Atlas Gabriel Seah (CC BY-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/3380/the-farnese-atlas/ "The Farnese Atlas")### Representations in Art
In [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) art, Atlas is, from the 6th century BCE, often featured in depictions of the labours of Hercules, most notably in a metope from the [temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) of Zeus at [Olympia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Olympia/) (c. 460 BCE) where he stands in the gardens of the Hesperides. Similar scenes were also popular on [Greek pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Pottery/) decoration, particularly with his brother Prometheus. In [Hellenistic](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hellenic_World/) and [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) times, Atlas is frequently represented in his now familiar position with bent knees and back, straining to hold the globe on his shoulders. Perhaps the most outstanding example of this pose is the 2nd-century CE [sculpture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Sculpture/) now in the Archaeological Museum of Naples.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- Carabatea M. *Greek Mythology.* Pergamos, Peania, 2007
- [Hesiod. *Hesiod.* Loeb Classical Library, 2007.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0674996224/)
- [Homer. *The Odyssey.* Penguin Classics, 1999.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0140268863/)
- Hope Moncrieff A.R. *Classical Mythology.* Senate, London, 1994
- [Simon Hornblower. *The Oxford Classical Dictionary.* Oxford University Press, USA, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199545561/)
## About the Author
Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.
## Timeline
- **c. 700 BCE**: [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) poet [Hesiod](https://www.worldhistory.org/hesiod/) writes his *[Theogony](https://www.worldhistory.org/Theogony/)* and *[Works and Days](https://www.worldhistory.org/Works_and_Days/)*.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Cartwright, M. (2017, March 24). Atlas: The Greek Titan Who Held up the World. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Atlas: The Greek Titan Who Held up the World." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 24, 2017. .
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Atlas: The Greek Titan Who Held up the World." *World History Encyclopedia*, 24 Mar 2017, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 24 March 2017. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.