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Home » Ancient History

Atlas Greek God

Published: Jul 24, 2018 · Modified: Nov 9, 2023 by Russell Yost · This post may contain affiliate links ·

Atlas, a Greek God and leader of the Titan rebellion against Zeus, is one of the more well-known Titans. After the defeat of the Titans, he was condemned to hold up the heavens, a responsibility he was only relieved of briefly when Heracles aided him. He is identified with the Atlas Mountains and had many children that also appear in Greek Mythology.

Atlas Greek God

Atlas Greek God: Family

Atlas was the son of Titans Iapetus and Clymene and had three brothers: Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Menoetius.

He also had many wives and children, mostly daughters.

His first wife Pleione bore to him eight daughters:

  • Calypso
  • Alcyone
  • Asterope
  • Electra
  • Caleano
  • Taygete
  • Merope
  • Maia (mother of Hermes)

Aethra bore to him:

  • the Hyades
  • Hyas

Hersperis bore to him:

  • the Hesperides

Atlas Greek God: Punishment

Atlas and his brother Menoetius sided with the Titans in their war against the Olympians, the Titanomachy. When the Titans were defeated, many of them were confined to Tartarus, but Zeus condemned Atlas to stand at the western edge of Gaia and hold up the sky on his shoulders.

It is a common misconception that Atlas holds the globe on his shoulders when it is in the heavens.

Atlas Greek God: Heracles

One of the Twelve Labors of the hero Heracles was to fetch some of the golden apples that grow in Hera's garden, tended by Atlas' daughters, the Hesperides, and guarded by the dragon Ladon. Heracles went to Atlas and offered to hold up the heavens while Atlas got the apples from his daughters.

Upon his return with the apples, however, Atlas attempted to trick Heracles into carrying the sky permanently by offering to deliver the apples himself, as anyone who purposely took the burden must carry it forever or until someone else took it away. Heracles, suspecting Atlas did not intend to return, pretended to agree to Atlas' offer, asking only that Atlas take the sky again for a few minutes so Heracles could rearrange his cloak as padding on his shoulders. When Atlas set down the apples and took the heavens upon his shoulders again, Heracles took the apples and ran away.

Online Resources

  • Wikipedia - Leader of the Titan Rebellion
  • Greek Mythology - Story of Atlas
  • Mythology – Edith Hamilton
  • The History Junkie’s Guide to the Ancient World
  • The History Junkie’s List of Greek Gods and Goddesses
  • The History Junkie’s Timeline of Ancient Greece

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