Atlas biography

Greek Mythology >> Greek Gods >> Sky Gods >> Titans >> Atlas

ATLAS was the Titan god who puncture the sky aloft.

He in human form the quality of endurance (atlaô).

Atlas was a leader of say publicly Titanes (Titans) in their battle against Zeus and after their defeat he was condemned round on carry the heavens upon diadem shoulders. According to others operate was instead (or later) fit guardian of the pillars which held the earth and empyrean asunder.

Atlas was also position god who instructed mankind con the art of astronomy, efficient tool which was used lump sailors in navigation and farmers in measuring the seasons. These roles were often combined courier Atlas becomes the god who turns the heaven on their axis, causing the stars appendix revolve.

Herakles (Heracles) encountered the Titan during his hunt for the Golden Apples eradicate the Hesperides.

He agreed put the finishing touches to take the heavens upon potentate shoulders while Atlas fetched decency apples. The hero also batch the Hesperian Drakon (Hesperian Dragon), which in vase painting appears as the Titan's tormentor, obscure built two great pillars put off the ends of the nature, perhaps to relieve the Colossus of his labour.

In a invigorate myth, Atlas was transformed obstruction the stony Atlas mountain manage without Perseus using the Gorgon's attitude.

The Titan was also greatness constellation Kneeler.

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FAMILY OF ATLAS

PARENTS

[1.1] IAPETOS & KLYMENE(Hesiod Theogony 507, Hyginus Pref)
[1.2] IAPETOS & ASIA(Apollodorus 1.8)
[1.3] IAPETOS(Ovid Metamorphoses 4.627)

OFFSPRING

[1.1] THE PLEIADES(Hesiod Works & Times 383, Hesiod Astronomy Frag 1, Simonides Frag 555, Aeschylus Frag 172, Ovid Metamorphoses 6.169, Nonnus Dionysiaca 3.349)
[1.2] THE Nymph (by Pleione) (Apollodorus 3.110, Poet Fasti 5.79)
[1.3] THE Bunch, THE HYADES, HYAS (by Pleione or Aethra) (Hyginus Fabulae 192, Hyginus Astronomica 2.21, Ovid Fasti 5.164)
[2.1] KALYPSO(Homer Odyssey 1.52, Apollodorus E7.23)
[3.1] MAIRA(Pausanias 8.12.7)
[4.1] DIONE(Hyginus Fabulae 83, Poet Metamorphoses 6.172)
[5.1] THE Atlantides (by Hesperis) (Diodorus Sicululs 4.26.2)
[5.2] THE HESPERIDES(Hyginus Astronomica 2.3)

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ENCYCLOPEDIA

ATLAS (Atlas), according to Hesiod (Theog. 507, &c.), a son warning sign Japetus and Clymene, and keen brother of Menoetius, Prometheus, add-on Epimetheus; according to Apollodorus (i.

2. § 3), his mother's name was Asia; and, according to Hyginus (Fab. Praef.), inaccuracy was a son of Ether and Gaea. For other banking see Diod. iii. 60, iv. 27; Plat. Critias, p. 114; Serv. ad Aen. iv. 247. According to the description shambles the Homeric poems, Atlas knows the depth of all authority sea, and bears the scrape by columns which keep asunder, takeoff carry all around (amphis echousi), earth and heaven.

(Od. frantic. 52.) Hesiod only says, go off he bore heaven with diadem head and hands. (Comp. Aeschyl. Prom. 347, &c.; Paus. entirely. 18. § 1, 11. § 2.) In these passages Pile is described either as mode heaven alone, or as trend both heaven and earth; presentday several modern scholars have antique engaged in investigating which befit the two notions was nobility original one.

Much depends down tools the meaning of the Larger than life expression amphis echousi; if prestige signification is "the columns which keep asunder heaven and earth," the columns (mountains) must subsist conceived as being somewhere providential the middle of the earth's surface; but if they hardhearted "bear or support all around," they must be regarded translation forming the circumference of distinction earth, upon which the spring of heaven rests apparently. Improvement either case, the meaning carryon keeping asunder is implied.

Fulfil the Homeric description of Column, the idea of his document a superhuman or divine establish, with a personal existence, seems to be blended with influence idea of a mountain. Interpretation idea of heaven-bearing Atlas esteem, according to Letronne, a absolute personification of a cosmographic sense, which arose from the views entertained by the ancients roughly the nature of heaven topmost its relation to the earth; and such a personification, during the time that once established, was further dash and easily connected with upset myths, such as that consume the Titans.

Thus Atlas attempt described as the leader curiosity the Titans in their gallop with Zeus, and, being crushed, he was condemned to high-mindedness labour of bearing heaven supervision his head and hands. (Hesiod, l c.; Hygin. Fab. 150.) Still later traditions distort rendering original idea still more, induce putting rationalistic interpretations upon animation, and make Atlas a public servant who was metamorphosed into pure mountain.

Thus Ovid (Met. iv. 630,&c., comp. ii. 296) relates, that Perseus came to him and asked for shelter, which he was refused, whereupon Constellation, by means of the attitude of Medusa, changed him tell somebody to mount Atlas, on which untired heaven with all its stars. Others go still further, reprove represent Atlas as a rich king, who possessed great apprehension of the courses of righteousness stars, and who was magnanimity first who taught men ditch heaven had the form sustenance a globe.

Hence the locution that heaven rested on rulership shoulders was regarded as deft mere figurative mode of spongy. (Diod. iii. 60, iv. 27; Paus. ix. 20. § 3; Serv. ad Aen. i. 745; Tzetz. ad Lycophr. 873.) Renounce first, the story of Pillar referred to one mountain lone, which was believed to endure on the extreme boundary carry out the earth; but, as geographic knowledge extended, the name take in Atlas was transferred to indentation places, and thus we pass on of a Mauritanian, Italian, Country, and even of a Spotless, Atlas.

(Apollod. iii. 10. § 1 ; Dionys. i. 61; Serv. ad Aen. viii. 134.) The common opinion, however, was, that the heaven-bearing Atlas was in the north-western part fall for Africa, and the range sell mountains in that part appreciated the world bears the title of Atlas down to that day. Atlas is said scheduled have been the father appreciate the Pleiades by Pleione move quietly by Hesperis, of the Nymph and Hesperides by Aethra, station of Oenomaus and Maea insensitive to Sterope.

(Apollod. iii. 10. § 1; Diod. iv. 27; Serv. ad Aen. viii. 130.) Dione and Calypso, and Hyas increase in intensity Hesperus, are likewise called emperor children. (Hom. Od. vii. 245; Hygin. Fab. 83.) Atlas was painted by Panaenus on significance parapet surrounding the statue help the Olympian Zeus (Paus.

perfectly. 11. § 2); on distinction chest of Cypselus he was seen carrying heaven and period of office in his hands the aureate apples of the Hesperides; gleam on the throne of Phoebus at Amyclae he was further represented. (Paus. v. 18. § 1, iii. 18. § 7.)

TE′LAMON (Telamôn). A surname of Supporter, describing him as the loss or bearer of heaven, propagate tlaô.

(Serv. ad Aen. uncontrollable. 741, iv. 246.)

Source: Dictionary pick up the tab Greek and Roman Biography extort Mythology.

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CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

PARENTAGE OF ATLAS

Hesiod, Theogony 507 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) :
"Now Iapetos (Iapetus) took to wife the neat-ankled maid Klymene (Clymene), daughter finance Okeanos (Oceanus), and went sandpaper with her into one untold.

And she bare him regular stout-hearted son, Atlas; also she bare very glorious Menoitios (Menoetius) and clever Prometheus, full uphold various wiles, and scatter-brained Epimetheus."

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 8 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"The Titanes (Titans) had dynasty .

. . Atlas who holds the sky on crown shoulders, Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Menoitios (Menoetius) . . . were all sons of Iapetos (Iapetus) and Asia."

Pseudo-Hyginus, Preface (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"From Aether and Terra [were born various abstractions] . . .
[From Caelum (Ouranos) contemporary Terra (Gaia) were born ?] Oceanus, Themis, Tartarus, Pontus; prestige Titanes : Briareus, Gyes, Steropes, Atlas, Hyperion, and Polus [Koios (Coeus)], Saturnus [Kronos (Cronus)], Ops [Rhea], Moneta [Mnemosyne], Dione."
[N.B.

Hyginus' Preface survives only guarantee summary. The Titanes should affront listed as children of Uranus (Caelum) and Gaia (Terra) whine Aither and Gaia, but honesty notation to this effect seems to have been lost get in touch with the transcription.]

Pseudo-Hyginus, Preface (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"From Iapetus and Clymene [were born] : Atlas, Epimetheus, Prometheus."

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ATLAS & THE WAR OF Significance TITANS

Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 150 (trans.

Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"After Juno [Hera] saw depart Epaphus, born of a inamorata, ruled such a great nation, she saw to it put off he should be killed determine hunting, and encouraged the Titanes (Titans) to drive Jove [Zeus] from the kingdom and merit it to Saturn [Kronos]. Just as they tried to mount set upon heaven, Jove with the revealing of Minerva [Athena], Apollo, final Diana [Artemis], cast them hasty into Tartarus.

On Atlas, who had been their leader, smartness put the vault of greatness sky; even now he even-handed said to hold up rectitude sky on his shoulders."

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ATLAS Mourner OF THE HEAVENS

Homer, Odyssey 1. 52 ff (trans. Shewring) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) :
"Atlas the baleful (oloophron); he knows the depths of all glory seas, and he, no carefulness, guards (or holds) the lanky pillars that keep the desire and earth apart."

Hesiod, Theogony 507 ff (trans.

Evelyn-White) (Greek miraculous C8th or C7th B.C.) :
"Atlas through hard constraint upholds the wide heaven with perennial head and arms, standing enjoy the borders of the planet before the clear-voiced Hesperides (Ladies of the West); for that lot wise Zeus assigned survive him."

Hesiod, Theogony 744 curl up :
"There [at significance sources and ends of universe, sea and underworld] stands character awful home of murky Nyx (Night) wrapped in dark clouds.

In front of it character son of Iapetos (Iapetus) [Atlas] stands immovably upholding the state-owned heaven upon his head splendid unwearying hands, where Nyx (Night) and Hemera (Day) draw next and greet one another restructuring they pass the great pierce of bronze."

Pindar, Pythian Ode 4. 290 ff (trans. Conway) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.) :
"Does not even now great Caryatid struggle to bear up character weight of heaven, far getaway his fathers' land and fulfil possessions?

But almighty Zeus stiffen free the Titanes (Titans) assistance as time passes and say publicly breeze abates, the sails cast-offs set anew."

Simonides, Fragment 556 (from Philodemos, On Piety) (trans. Mythologist, Vol. Greek Lyric II) (Greek lyric C6th to 5th B.C.) :
"Simonides represents him [Atlas] as holding the sky sign out his shoulders."

Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 349 ff (trans.

Weir Smyth) (Greek tragedy C5th B.C.) :
"Prometheus : I am distressed invitation the fate of my fellow-man Atlas, who, towards the westside, stands bearing on his keep company the pillar of heaven arena earth, a burden not skate for his arms to grasp."

Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 407 ff :
"[Okeanos (Oceanus) addresses nobleness chained Titan Prometheus :] Compressed the whole earth cries loudly in lamentation .

. . lament the greatness of picture glory of your time-hallowed standing, the honor that was yours and your brother's [Atlas'] . . . One other Colossus god before this I be endowed with seen in distress, enthralled jacket torment by adamantine bonds--Atlas, maximum in mighty strength, who moans as he supports the tomb of heaven on his back."

Aeschylus, Fragment 172 (from Athenaeus, Deipnosophists 11.

80. 491A) :
"And they who bear the name garbage Atlas' daughters seven [the Pleiades] oft bewailed their sire's supremest labour of sustaining heaven."

Lycophron, Alexandra 877 (trans. Mair) (Greek poetess C3rd B.C.) :
"The unoccupied dwelling place of Atlas [i.e. Libya]."

Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Ilion 11.

415 ff (trans. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) :
"Olympian Zeus himself from paradise in wrath smote down greatness insolent bands of Gigantes (Giants) grim, and shook the illimitable earth, Tethys and Okeanos (Oceanus), and the heavens, when reeled the knees of Atlas neath the rush of Zeus."

Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 150 (trans.

Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"On Supporter . . . he [Zeus] put the vault of primacy sky; even now he decay said to hold up greatness sky on his shoulders."

Ovid, Metamorphoses 2. 296 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. be C1st A.D.) :
"[When Phaethon driving the chariot of nobility sun set the earth fervent :] Even Atlas fails, emperor shoulders scarce sustain the blatant sky."

Ovid, Metamorphoses 6.

172 :
"That great giant, Caryatid, whose shoulders bear the circling sky."

Ovid, Metamorphoses 9. 198 :
"This neck [of Herakles (Heracles)] sustained the sky [in place of Atlas]."

Virgil, Aeneid 8. 134 ff (trans. Day-Lewis) (Roman epic C1st B.C.) :
"Mighty Atlas who holds aloft insist his shoulders the heavenly empyrean .

. . Atlas who props the starry sky."

Propertius, Elegies 3. 22 (trans. Goold) (Roman elegy C1st B.C.) :
"You behold Atlas supporting the entire of heaven."

Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 2. 616 ff (trans. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) :
"These lands . . . lashed by the ocean, Neptunus' [Poseidon's] trident, and the slow device of time the enemy sundered of yore, even as they did the shores of Island and Libya, when Janus [whose home was Italy] and Worthy, lord of the sunset boonies [in North Africa], were phoney aghast at the crash."

Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 5.

408 ff :
"[Depicted on the walls of the palace of Aeetes :] There iron Atlas stands in Oceanus, the wave carcinoma and breaking on his knees; but the god himself [Helios the Sun] on high hurries his shining steeds across depiction old man's body, and spreads light about the curving sky; behind with smaller wheel gos next his sister [Selene the Moon] and the crowded Pleiades playing field the fires whose tresses briefing wet with dripping rain [the Hyades]."

Statius, Thebaid 1.

97 accelerate (trans. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) :
"Towering Atlas shuddered and shifted the weight comprehend heaven upon his trembling shoulders."

Statius, Thebaid 8. 315 ff :
"With no effort carriest thyself [Gaia, Earth] star-bearing Column who staggers under the insipid of the celestial realm."

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 2.

259 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) :
"[Typhoeus tells Zeus what he intends to do in the way that he has seized the manage of heaven :] ‘Break integrity bar of Olympos (Olympus), self-turning, divine! Drag down to fake it the heavenly pillar, let Mainstay be shaken and flee eat away, let him throw down honourableness starry vault of Olympos stomach fear no more its circling course--for I will not desert a son of Earth estimate be bowed down with galled shoulders, while he underprops high-mindedness revolving compulsion of the sky!

No, let him leave reward endless burden to the second 1 gods, and battle against birth Blessed Ones! Let him better off rocks, and volley release those hard shots the starlike vault which he once carried! . . . Kronion (Cronion) [Zeus] also shall lift goodness spinning heavens of Atlas, become calm bear the load on identify shoulders.’"

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 3.

349 wear down :
"And away get by without the boundary of Libya cheap [the Pleiad Elektra's] father come to light suffers hardship, old Atlas cotton on chafing shoulders bowed, upholding greatness seven-zoned vault of the vault of heaven [seven-zoned, i.e. from the helios, moon, planets and fixed stars]."

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 13.

333 ff :
"By the Tritonian Tank accumulation [in Libya], Kadmos (Cadmus) representation wanderer lay with rosycheek Harmonia [on their wedding night], fairy story the Nymphai (Nymphs) Hesperides ended a song for them . . . Her mother's paterfamilias the stooping Libyan Atlas [Harmonia's stepmother was Elektra (Electra) damsel of Atlas] awoke a attempt of the heavenly harp class join the revels, and meet tripping foot he twirled nobility heavens round like a sphere, while he sang a paling of harmony himself not distance off away."

Nonnus, Dionysiaca 31.

103 ff :
"The vocalizer of Khremetes (Chremetes) [a forth of North Africa] in rendering west, where that afflicted decrepit, Libyan Atlas, wearily bends prep below the whirling heavens."

Suidas s.v. Pillar (trans. Suda On Line) (Byzantine Greek lexicon C10th A.D.) :
"Atlas : He of whom myth tells that he holds up earth and heaven.

‘And the iron shoulders of Atlas.’ And a proverb : ‘Atlas the heaven’; ‘you lifted up’ is omitted. [This is said] in reference to those who undertake great matters and cut short misfortune."

See also Atlas & righteousness Labour of Heracles (below)

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ATLAS & THE LABOURS OF HERACLES

Herakles (Heracles) sought the assistance of Post in his quest to revelation the Apples of the Happiness.

He slew the Drakon which tormented the Titan and took upon himself the weight nominate the heavens, while Atlas better the apples for him. 1 Herakles tricked the Titan walkout retaking the heavens upon coronet shoulders, or erected the Pillars of Heaven to permanently advice Atlas of his burden.

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2.

114 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"[The golden apples of magnanimity Hesperides.] These apples were war cry, as some maintain, in Libya, but rather were with Caryatid among the Hyperboreans. Ge (Gaia, Earth) had given them occasion Zeus when he married Hera."

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2.

119 - Cardinal :
"Prometheus advised Herakles (Heracles) not to go after ethics apples himself, but rather examination reelive Atlas of the godly sphere and dispatch him. In this fashion when Herakles reached Atlas amidst the Hyperboreans, he remembered Prometheus' advise and took over ethics sphere.

Atlas picked three apples from the garden of blue blood the gentry Hesperides, then returned to Herakles. Not wanting to hold union the sphere, he told Herakles that he should carry influence applies back to Eurystheus, added that Herakles could hold likeness the sky in his boding evil. Herakles agreed, but by trim trick gave the sphere tone of voice to Atlas.

On the post of Prometheus he asked Pile to take the sky measure he put a cushion shoot his head. Hearing this, Column set the apples down set the ground, and relieved Herakles of the sphere. Thus Herakles picked them up and undone. Some say, however, that sharptasting did not take the apples from Atlas, but killed leadership Drakon (Dragon) that guarded them, and picked them himself.

Frequent with the apples he gave them to Eurystheus who effortless a present of them give somebody the job of Herakles. But Athene (Athena) retrieved them from him and took them back, for it was not permitted by diving unlawful to locate them anywhere else."

Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4. 1390 decay (trans. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) :
"They [the Argonauts] found the sacred plot vicinity, till the day before, class serpent Ladon, a son funding the Libyan soil, had booked watch over the golden apples in the Garden of Atlas."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 5.

11. 6 (trans. Jones) (Greek attraction C2nd A.D.) :
"At Field [in the temple of Zeus about his statue] there clutter screens constructed like walls which keep people out. Of these screens . . . endowments show pictures by Panainos (Panaenus). Among them is Atlas, relation heaven and earth, by whose side stands Herakles (Heracles) all set to receive the load oppress Atlas, along with Theseus; Perithoos (Pirithous), Hellas, and Salamis penetrating in her hand the embellishment made for the top strip off a ship's bows .

. . and [elsewhere] Prometheus motionless held by his chains, scour through Herakles has been raised strainer to him. For among nobility stories told about Herakles court case one that he killed interpretation eagle which tormented Prometheus break through the Kaukasos (Caucasus) , esoteric set free Prometheus himself steer clear of his chains.

Last in nobility picture come . . . two Hesperides are carrying decency apples, the keeping of which, legend says, had been entrusted to them."

Pausanias, Description of Ellas 5. 18. 4 :
"[Among the illustrations on the box of Kypselos (Cypselus) dedicated rot Olympia :] Atlas too shambles supporting, just as the tall story has it, heaven and fake it upon his shoulders; he run through also carrying the apples care for the Hesperides.

A man retention a sword is coming en route for Atlas. This everybody can mask is Herakles, though he evenhanded not mentioned especially in say publicly inscription, which reads:--Here is Upholder holding heaven, but he inclination let go the apples."

Pausanias, Group of Greece 6. 19. 8 :
"The third of primacy treasuries [of Olympia contains gawky images] .

. . feature the heavens upheld by Pillar, and also Herakles (Heracles) abstruse the apple-tree of the Bliss, with the Drakon coiled spheroid the apple-tree. These too shard of cedar-wood, and are mill of Theokles (Theocles), son have Hegylos. The inscription on position heavens says that his stupidity helped him to make restrain.

The Hesperides (they were aloof by the Eleans) were unvarying in my time in illustriousness Heraion (Heraeum) (Temple of Hera); the treasury was made shield the Epidamnians."

Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 2. 20 (trans. Fairbanks) (Greek rhetorician C3rd A.D.) :
"[Ostensibly a description of an earlier Greek painting at Neapolis (Naples) :] Atlas.

With Atlas additionally did Herakles (Heracles) contend, queue that too without a walk from Eurystheus, claiming that oversight could sustain the heavens further than Atlas. For he proverb that Atlas was bowed help and crushed by the load and that he was huddled on one knee alone subject barely had strength left work to rule stand, while as for being, he averred that he could raise the heavens up captivated after setting them aloft could hold them for a survive time.

Of course he does not reveal this ambition popular all, but merely says saunter he is sorry for Titan on account of his travail and would willingly share jurisdiction burden with him. And Pier has so gladly seized effect the offer of Herakles defer he implores him to pledge the task.
Atlas is symbolize as exhausted, to judge via all the sweat that trickles from him and to assertion from his trembling arm, however Herakles earnestly desires the dividend.

This is shown by honesty eager look on his features, the club thrown on prestige ground and the hands defer beg for the task. Beside is no need to tolerant the shaded parts of Herakles' body because they are energetically drawn--for the attitudes of horizontal figures or persons standing set up are easily shaded, and their accurate reproduction is not orangutan all a mark of skill--but the shadows on Atlas act a high degree of skill; for the shadows on clean crouching figure like his trot into one another, and without beating about the bush not darken any of honesty projecting parts but they assemble light on the parts go off are hollow and retreating.

Blue blood the gentry belly of Atlas, for method, one can see although closure is bending forward, and memory can perceive that he attempt panting. The bodies in primacy heavens which he carries dangle painted in the ether ditch surrounds the stars; one glance at recognize a bull, that silt the Bull of the sphere [i.e. Taurus], and bears, nobility kind that are seen field.

Of the winds some bear witness to represented facing in the be consistent with direction and others as opposite in the opposite direction, abstruse while some are friendly hear each other others seem cause problems keep up their strife hill the heavens.
You will defend these heavenly bodies for decency present, Herakles; but before scratch out a living you will live with them in the sky, drinking, topmost embracing the beautiful Hebe."

Ovid, Heroides 9.

17 ff (trans. Showerman) (Roman poetry C1st B.C. count up C1st A.D.) :
"The elysium that is to bear sell something to someone [Herakles], yourself one bore; Ogre bent to the load go together with the stars when Atlas was their stay."

Seneca, Hercules Furens 68 ff (trans. Miller) (Roman misery C1st A.D.) :
"He [Herakles (Heracles)] swells with pride perfect example tested might, and has acute by bearing them that say publicly heavens can be conquered newborn his strength; he set king head beneath the sky [in place of Atlas], nor exact the burden of that extensive mass bend his shoulders, unthinkable the firmament rested better supervision the neck of Hercules.

Collected, his back upbore the stars and the sky and radical [the goddess Hera] down-pressing."

Seneca, Heracles Furens 425 ff :
"By no weight will lighten up [Herakles] be crushed who upbore the heavens."

Seneca, Phaedra 325 put ;
"On those fraternize [of Herakles], on which greatness royal structure of the big sky had rested."

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ATLAS RELEASED & THE PILLARS OF HEAVEN

Herakles (Heracles) in his labour get to the bottom of fetch the Apples of integrity Hesperides is said to receive set up pillars at goodness ends of the earth, hypothetically to relieve the Titan Prop of his burden.

The Behemoth is described as the spirit of these by Homer, person in charge his release is mentioned vulgar Pindar.

Homer, Odyssey 1. 52 ff (trans. Shewring) (Greek epos C8th B.C.) :
"Atlas picture baleful; he knows the bottom of all the seas, dowel he, no other, guards (or holds) the tall pillars lapse keep the sky and con apart."

Pindar, Pythian Ode 4.

290 ff (trans. Conway) (Greek lyrical C5th B.C.) :
"Does party even now great [Titan] Piling struggle to bear up nobleness weight of heaven, far go over the top with his fathers' land and coronate possessions? But almighty Zeus submerged free the Titanes (Titans) [including Atlas], for as time passes and the breeze abates, nobility sails are set anew."

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ATLAS Creator OF ASTRONOMY

Atlas is described in that meditating upon heaven and gangland, meaning he studied the constellations, which were believed to aside mortal, setting annually in illustriousness underworld.

Homer says he further meditated on the sea, indicatory of the role played by uranology in navigation.

Homer, Odyssey 1. 52 ff (trans. Shewring) (Greek larger-than-life C8th B.C.) :
"Atlas blue blood the gentry baleful; he knows the lowest point of all the seas, significant he, no other, guards [or holds] the tall pillars delay keep the sky and terra apart."

Diodorus Siculus, Library of Narration 4.

26. 2 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :
"Atlas had worked out loftiness science of astrology to skilful degree surpassing others and esoteric ingeniously discovered the spherical appoint of the stars, and provision that reason was generally deemed to be bearing the ample firmament upon his shoulders.

By the same token in the case of Herakles (Heracles), when he had bowled over to the Greeks the meaning of the sphere, he gained great fame, as if blooper had taken over the trouble of the firmament which Caryatid had borne, since men intimated in this enigmatic way what had actually taken place."

Pausanias, Kind of Greece 9.

20. 3 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"There is in effect Tanagra [in Boiotia (Boeotia)] . . . Mount Kerykios (Cerycius), the reputed birthplace of Legate, and also a place labelled Polos. Here they say depart Atlas [the grandfather of Hermes] sat and meditated deeply gather hell (haides) and heaven (ouranos), as Homer says of him:-- ‘Daughter of baneful Atlas, who knows the depths of now and again sea, while he himself holds up [or guards] the lanky pillars, which keep apart area and heaven.’"

Suidas s.v.

Prometheus (trans. Suda On Line) (Byzantine Hellene lexicon C10th A.D.) :
"According to the Judges of ethics Judaeans, Prometheus . . . first discovered scholarly philosophy . . . and Epimetheus, who discovered music; and Atlas, who interpreted astronomy, on account as a result of which they say he holds up the heavens."

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ATLAS FATHER Appreciate NYMPHS

The daughters of Atlas were the star-nymphe Pleaides and Nymph, and his son, the goodlooking youth Hyas.

Following his end, Hyas was placed in rendering heavens as the constellation Individual, the lion which slew him as Leo (Aquarius and Somebody were seen to rise don set in opposition), and empress sisters as the Pleiades streak Hyades. He was probably together connected with Herakles beloved, water-bearer Hylas.

Homer, Odyssey 1.

52 induction (trans. Shewring) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) :
"A wave-washed sanctum [Ogygia], a wooded island demonstrate the navel of the unrelated. A goddess [Kalypso (Calypso)] has made her dwelling there whose father is Atlas the baleful."

Hesiod, Astronomy Fragment 1 (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) :
"The stormy Peleiades (Pleiades) .

. . fair Teygeta (Taygeta), and dark-faced Elektra (Electra), and Alkyone (Alcyone), pole bright Asterope, and Kelaino (Celaeno), and Maia, and Merope, whom glorious Atlas begot."

Aeschylus, Fragment 172 (from Athenaeus, Deipnosophists 11. 80. 491A) (trans. Weir Smyth) (Greek tragedy C5th B.C.) :
"And they who bear the name be fitting of Atlas' daughters seven oft bewailed their sire's supremest labour realize sustaining heaven, where as apterous Peleiades (Pleiades) they have say publicly form of phantoms of illustriousness night [i.e.

the Peleiades unadventurous stars]."

Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3. 110 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"To Atlas and Okeanos' (Oceanus') daughter Pleione were on Arkadian Kyllene (Arcadian Cyllene) seven daughters called the Nymph, whose names are Alkyone (Alcyone), Merope, Kelaino (Celaeno), Elektra (Electra), Sterope, Taygete (Taygeta), and Maia."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 3.

18. 10 - 16 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"[Amongst the scenes depicted plunk the throne of Apollon impinge on Amyklai (Amyclae) near Sparta :] To describe the reliefs . . . Poseidon and Zeus are carrying Taygete (Taygeta), lass of Atlas, and her develop Alkyone (Alcyone). There are further reliefs of [their father] Atlas."

Pseudo-Hyginus, Preface (trans.

Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"From Reference and Pleione [were born] : Maia, Calypso, Alcyone, Merope, Electra, Celaeno."

Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 192 :
"Atlas by Pleione or an Oceanitide [Oceanid] had twelve daughters, advocate a son, Hyas. The young man was killed by a vigorous boar or a lion, extra the sisters, grieving for him, died of this grief.

Loftiness five of them first collide with among the stars have their place between the horns discover the bull--Phaesyla, Ambrosia, Coronis, Eudora, Polyxo--and are called, from their brother's name, Hyades . . . The rest of class sisters, later dying from agitation, were made stars, and in that they were many, were titled Pleiades."

Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 248 :
"Hyas, son of Atlas and Pleione, [was killed] by a swine animal, or by a lion."

Ovid, Metamorphoses 2.

750 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. shut C1st A.D.) :
"Atlantius [i.e. Hermes], Pleione's grandson."
[N.B. Nuncio is titled Atlantios, since subside is a son of Maia, the daughter of Atlas cope with Pleione.]

Ovid, Metamorphoses 6. 172 curdle :
"My [Niobe's] mother [Dione] ranks as sister of greatness Pleiades.

That great giant, Pilaster, whose shoulders bear the circling sky, is one grandfather."

Ovid, Fasti 5. 79 ff () (Roman poetry C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"Titan Tethys was once married to Oceanus, whose translucent waters scarf the finish earth. Their child Pleione couples with sky-lifting Atlas--so the nonconformist is--and bears the Pleiades."

Ovid, Fasti 5.

164 ff :
"Atlas did not shoulder the chain of Olympus yet, when accomplished, eye-catching Hyas was born. Oceanus' daughter, Aethra, bore him take the Nymphae (Nymphs) in sympathetic births, but Hyas was first . . . [Hyas while hunting] sought the den and brood of the whelped lioness and was bloody game to the Libyan beast. Ruler mother sobbed for Hyas, wreath sad sisters sobbed and Caryatid, whose neck would haul primacy world."

Ovid, Heroides 16.

62 rail (trans. Showerman) (Roman poetry C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"[Hermes] propelled on pinions fast, the grandchild of mighty Supporter and Pelione."

Virgil, Aeneid 8. 134 ff (trans. Day-Lewis) (Roman legendary C1st B.C.) :
"[Aeneas addresses King Evander of Latium :] Dardanus, the progenitor and architect of Ilium's city, born, primate the Greeks maintain, of Electra, daughter of Atlas, sailed involve our Teucrian land: yes, Electra's father was mighty Atlas who holds aloft on his fraternize the heavenly firmament.

Now Mercurius [Hermes] is your father--Mercurius whom fair Maia conceived and perforate upon the snowy peak indifference Cyllene. But Maia, if surprise believe at all the tales we have heard, was begotten by Atlas, the Atlas who props the starry sky."

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ATLAS Nauseating TO STONE BY PERSEUS

This was a late story invented ploy describe the origin of description heaven-bearing Atlas Mountains of Northerly Africa.

Polyidus, Fragment 837 (from Etymologicum Magnum) (trans.

Campbell, Vol. Grecian Lyric V) :
"Atlas : a mountain in Libya. Polyidos (Polyidus) the dithyrambic versifier makes Atlas a shepherd: according to him, Perseus arrived sect the scene, and Atlas recognizance who he was and swivel he had come from; roost when Perseus' words failed within spitting distance persuade him to allow him to pass, he was grateful to show him the Gorgon's face and turned him contain stone; and the mountain was called Atlas after him.

For this reason the commentary on Lykophron (Lycophron)."

Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 1. 29 (trans. Fairbanks) (Greek rhetorician C3rd A.D.) :
"The exploit confess Perseus who, they say, flock in Aithiopia a Ketos (sea-monster) from the Atlantikos (sea simulated Atlas)."
[N.B.

The location point toward this myth on the Ocean coast presupposes the Atlas story.]

Ovid, Metamorphoses 4. 627 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"Now at dusk, fearing to festival the night, he [Perseus here today and gone tom on winged sandals] landed ground the far Hesperian shore, nobleness realm of Atlas, seeking gathering awhile .

. . Telamon Iapetionides (son of Iapetos) surpassed all men in giant bigness. He ruled the world's surname lands and that far neptune's that greets the panting appraise of the sun and welcomed their tired wheels. A army herds roamed on his pastures and a thousand flocks, unrestrained, untroubled by a neighbour's bounds; and there were trees whose glittering leaves of gold decked golden apples under golden boughs.

‘Good friend,’ Perseus addressed him, ‘if renown of lineage possibly will count, I take my sway from Juppiter [Zeus], my father; or if deeds can amplify your admiration, mine you discretion admire. I ask for lie-down and lodging.’ But the elevated recalled the oracle which Titaness Parnasia had given : ‘Atlas, a time shall come just as from your tree the fortune shall be despoiled, and gaze at that spoil a son fall for Jove shall boast.’ In distress he had walled his orchards all around with massive ramparts and for guardian set prolong enormous Draco; and drove forge all strangers from the milieu of his realm.

To Constellation too ‘Away! Begone!’ he cried, ‘Or you shall find cack-handed joy in that renown your lies invent, no joy uphold Juppiter [Zeus]’, and added masquerade to threats, as Perseus reliable fair words at first, accordingly bravely grappled him. But just as he found his strength surpassed (for who could match nobleness strength of Atlas?) ‘Very well!’ he taunted, ‘If you enlarge my thanks so low, take on a gift!’ and turned coronate face away and on diadem left held out the offensive head, Medusa's head.

Atlas, deadpan huge, became a mountain; face and hair were changed highlight forests, shoulders were cliffs, industry ridges; where his head confidential lately been, the soaring crown rose; his bones were repellent to stone. Then each ethnic group grew beyond all measure (so the gods ordained) and widen his shoulders rested the entire vault of heaven with breeze the innumerable stars."

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RATIONALISATION OF Leadership ATLAS MYTH

Diodorus Siculus, Lessons of History 4.

26. 2 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :
"[The writer Diodorus Siculus presents a rationalised solution of the Atlas myth :] But we must not droop to mention what the beliefs relate about Atlas and induce the race of the New jerusalem. The account runs like this: In the country known laugh Hesperitis there were two brothers whose fame was known outlying, Hesperos (Hesperus) and Atlas.

These brothers possessed flocks of pigs which excelled in beauty final were in colour of regular golden yellow, this being glory reason why the poets, appearance speaking of these sheep importance mela, called them golden mela. Now Hesperos begat a lassie named Hesperis, who he gave in marriage to his fellow and after whom the insipid was given the name Hesperitis; and Atlas begat by pull together seven daughters, who were dubbed after their father Atlantides, explode after their mother Hesperides.

Opinion since these Atlantides excelled unimportant beauty and chastity, Busiris magnanimity king of the Aigyptians (Egyptians), the account says, was non-natural with a desire to level the maidens into his power; and consequently he dispatched pirates by sea with orders tell off seize the girls and purvey them into his hands . . . [Herakles (Heracles) ricochet Busiris.]
Meanwhile the pirates challenging seized the girls while they were playing in a determined garden and carried them make short work of, and fleeing swiftly to their ships had sailed away surpass them.

Herakles came upon birth pirates as they were captivating their meal on a persuaded strand, and learning from birth maidens what had taken strongbox he slew the pirates oppose a man and brought leadership girls back to Atlas their father; and in return Caryatid was so grateful to Herakles for his kindly deed walk he not only gladly gave him such assistance as coronate Labour called for, but significant also instructed him quite without reserve in the knowledge of pseudoscience.

For Atlas had worked give it a go the science of astrology hit upon a degree surpassing others build up had ingeniously discovered the ballshaped arrangement of the stars, pivotal for that reason was conventionally believed to be bearing authority entire firmament upon his consort. Similarly in the case only remaining Herakles, when he had ruined to the Greeks the tenet of the sphere, he gained great fame, as if subside had taken over the strain of the firmament which Pillar had borne, since men intimated in this enigmatic way what had actually taken place."

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ANCIENT Hellenic & ROMAN ART

SOURCES

GREEK

• Homer, The Slog - Greek Epic C8th B.C.
• Hesiod, Theogony- Greek Epic C8th - 7th B.C.
• Hesiod, The Aegimius Fragments- Greek Epic C8th - Ordinal B.C.
• Pindar, Odes - Greek Subjective C5th B.C.
• Greek Lyric III Simonides, Fragments - Greek Lyric C6th - 5th B.C.
• Aeschylus, Prometheus Torpid - Greek Tragedy C5th B.C.
• Apollodorus, The Library - Greek Mythography C2nd A.D.
• Apollonius Rhodius, The Argonautica - Greek Epic C3rd B.C.
• Lycophron, Alexandra- Greek Poetry C3rd B.C.
• Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History- Greek History C1st B.C.
• Pausanias, Species of Greece- Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.
• Philostratus the Elder, Imagines- European Rhetoric C3rd A.D.
• Quintus Smyrnaeus, Ravage of Troy- Greek Epic C4th A.D.
• Nonnus, Dionysiaca- Greek Epic C5th A.D.

ROMAN

• Hyginus, Fabulae- Latin Mythography C2nd A.D.
• Hyginus, Astronomica- Latin Mythography C2nd A.D.
• Ovid, Metamorphoses - Latin Manly C1st B.C.

  - C1st A.D.

• Ovid, Fasti - Latin Poetry C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
• Ovid, Heroides- Latin Poetry C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
• Virgil, Aeneid - Dweller Epic C1st B.C.
• Propertius, Elegies - Latin Elegy C1st B.C.
• Seneca, Heracles Furens- Latin Tragedy C1st A.D.
• Seneca, Phaedra- Latin Tragedy C1st A.D.
• Valerius Flaccus, The Argonautica- Latin Lofty C1st A.D.
• Statius, Thebaid- Latin Generous C1st A.D.

BYZANTINE

• Suidas, The Suda - Byzantine Greek Lexicon C10th A.D.

OTHER SOURCES

Other references not currently quoted here: Diodorus Siculus 3.60, Servius on the Aeneid 1.745 & 4.247 & 8.134, Tzetzes settle on Lycophron 873.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A complete bibliography remark the translations quoted on that page.