- Atlas was a Titan God who was ordered by Zeus to hold the Earth on his shoulders.
- This was a punishment for his part in a ten year war called the ‘Titanomachy’ in which the Titans fought against the Twelve Olympians and lost.
Greek Mythology
- In Greek Mythology Atlas was the son of the Titan Gods Iapetus and Clymene.
- He was married to the Titaness Pleione and was father of many daughters, the Nymph Calypso, the seven Pleiades sisters, the Hyades sisters and the Hesperides sisters.
- He was the brother of Prometheus, Epimetheus and Menoetius.
- Plato wrote in the Critias that Atlas was the first king of Atlantis.
- In the Twelve Labours of Hercules he helped Hercules locate the Garden of Hesperides, slay the Dragon and collect the Golden Apples.
- The Atlas Mountains in Morocco are named after him.
Photo: Atlas Statue, Atlas House, King Street, London