by Tim Harry

Created on: February 21, 2008   Last Updated: December 26, 2008

The tales of Ancient Greece are some of the most entertaining of all historic tales, entertaining adults and children alike. The daring feats of Greek heroes and the adventures of the Olympian gods fufill the written dreams of many readers, and yet there are many villains that also have their own tales down in writing. Atlas is one of these villains, he was neither a hero or a god, in fact he was a Titan and an enemy of Zeus.

Atlas was a second-generation Titan; as such he was the son of the Titan Iapetus and Clymene, the Oceanid Asia, and had three brothers; Menoetius, Prometheus, and Epimetheus.

In the Golden Age, twelve original Titans under Cronus had ruled the heavens as Elder Gods, but the second-generation Titans were in a position of sub servitude to the new Gods of Mount Olympus under Zeus.

From a position of sub servitude, Cronus sought to lead the Titans in rebellion and it was during this rebellion that the name of Atlas first emerged. Atlas, along with Menoetius, sided with Cronus, though his other brothers, Prometheus and Epimetheus, allied themselves with Zeus. Atlas was widely recognised as being the strongest of the Titans, and with Cronus being of advanced age, Atlas was given the role of battlefield leader.

The Titanomachy, the war against the Olympians, did not go well and the Titan rebellion was ultimately defeated. Most of the Titans were confined by Zeus to the depths of Tartarus, but because of his prominent role, Atlas was singled out for special punishment. Zeus condemned Atlas to stand on the western edges of the earth, to hold the heavens on his shoulders and to ensure that the stars turned on their axis.

From this point of rough agreement there follows a series of stories involving Atlas in Greek mythology that diverge is such a way that they cannot all stand side by side. The most famous story involves the meeting of Hercules and Atlas. As one of Hercules' Twelve Labours, Hercules needed to get the Golden Apples that grew in the garden of Hera. Hercules was advised Prometheus to send Atlas to retrieve the apples, as the garden was tended by Atlas' daughter the Hesperides. To allow this to occur, Hercules offered to hold the heavens. Atlas though he collected the apples, then saw Hercules as a ready made substitute for himself for eternity, and therefore offered to deliver the apples himself. Hercules saw through the lie, and tricked Atlas to take the heavens again, whilst Hercules adjusted his cloak as padding. Even with this popular

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