Who Is Atlas?:
In Rockefeller Center, in New York City, there is a giant 2-ton statue of Atlas holding the world on his shoulders, made in 1936, by Lee Lawrie and Rene Chambellan. This art deco bronze shows Atlas as he is known from Greek mythology. Atlas is a Titan giant whose job is to hold up the world. He is not known for his brains, although he almost tricked Hercules into taking over the chore.
There is a nearby statue of the Titan Prometheus.
Occupation:
Family of Atlas:
Atlas is the son of the Titans Iapetus and Clymene, two of the twelve Titans. In Roman mythology, Atlas had a wife, the nymph Pleione, who bore the Pleiades and the Hyades. He also was the father of the Hesperides, whose mother was Hesperis.
Atlas as King:
The career of Atlas included ruling as king of Arcadia. His successor was Deimas, the son of Dardanus of Troy.
Atlas and Perseus:
Perseus asked Atlas for a place to stay, but Atlas refused. In response, Perseus showed Atlas the head of Medusa, which turned him to the stone that is now known as Mount Atlas.
Titanomachy:
Since the Titan Cronus was too old, Atlas led the other Titans in their ten-year battle against Zeus, which is called the Titanomachy. After the gods won, Zeus singled Atlas out for punishment, by making him carry the heavens on his shoulders. Most of the Titans were confined to Tartarus.
Atlas and Hercules:
Hercules was sent to get the apple of the Herperides. Atlas agreed to get the apples if Hercules would hold the heavens for him. Atlas wanted to stick Hercules with the job, but Hercules tricked him into taking back the burden of carrying the heavens on his shoulders.
