Atlas: The Greek Myth Of Atlas

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Atlas, one of the very important Greek Gods, is from the 6th century BCE. He is a very unique Greek God with a very important job, famous myths, and a powerful family. Atlas is the god of Astronomy and Navigation. He is one of the Titans or the Elder Gods that fought in the war against the Olympian Gods. He fought alongside his brother Menetius, but against his brothers Prometheus and Epimetheus. During this war, he was the leader of the Titans. For this, he was condemned by Zeus to hold the world and the heavens on his shoulders forever. He is one of the important Gods for this very reason. "...this giant of a god gave his name to a huge mountain range in Northern Africa, the great Atlantic Ocean, and any large collection of maps." (ancient.eu/Atlas/) He was also the father of many stars and the original King of Atlantis. …show more content…

Perseus showed medusas head and turned Atlas to stone, creating the Atlas Mountains. From then on Atlas was associated with these mountains. The most famous myth of Atlas is the Celebrated 12 Labours of Hercules. In this myth Atlas was asked by Hercules to get the golden apples from the fabled gardens. These gardens were sacred to the Hesperides and guarded by Landon, the hundred headed dragon. Hercules took the world on his shoulders along with Athena while Atlas did this. Atlas thought he had tricked Hercules into holding the world on his shoulders forever but was outsmarted. Hercules tricked Atlas to switched places while he did something and left him holding the world