Resources for Literature:

Literary References to Atlas

Jeanette Winterson’s novel, Weight (2005), is a retelling of the myth of Atlas and Heracles.

Stop! Think!

Atlas provides an aetiological myth explaining the solar system’s presence in space before any understanding of gravity.  Can you think of comparable stories in other religions?

Note that Atlas bears the celestial globe, i.e. the heavens not the world, on his shoulders.

Other Gods and Goddesses:

Atlas

Atlas was one of the race of giants, the Titans, who rebelled against the gods.  Zeus punished him for storming Mount Olympus by condemning him to bear the heavens upon his shoulders – hence his name, which means ‘to bear’ or ‘to endure’.

Man Mountain

Atlas once refused to shelter the hero Perseus.  In vengeance, Perseus turned him into stone by showing him Medusa’s head.  This explains why the range of mountains in north-west Africa are known as the Atlas mountains.

Outwitted by Heracles

For one of his twelve labours, Heracles had to collect the golden apples of the Hesperides.  Heracles offered to shoulder Atlas’ burden if he would collect the apples.

Planning to leave Heracles holding the heavens forever, Atlas agreed.  However, when he returned with the apples, Heracles asked him to hold the celestial globe for a moment while he made himself comfortable and, when Atlas took over the burden, Heracles absconded with the apples.