Atlas
Atlas was one of a group of gods called "The Titans." He was the son of the titan Lapetos and a sea nymph named Clymene. He is also the brother of Prometheus. Atlas and the other Titans fought an unsuccessful war against Zeus and the other Olympian gods. Zeus punished Atlas by forcing him to stand and support the sky on his shoulder forever.
The famous greek hero Hercules asked Atlas for help in taking the apples of the Hesperides. Atlas went to get the apples leaving Hercules to hold up the sky. When Atlas returned with the apples he refused to take back the sky hoping to force Hercules to support the sky permanently. Hercules outwitted Atlas and decieved him into taking back the sky again.
Atlas stood in the North west region of what is now Africa. The Atlas Mountains which are located in North Western Africa were named for him. Many works of art show Atlas supporting the Earth instead of the sky. The Earth represents the sky. Atlas had eight children who were all female.
Only one man could set Atlas free from his never-ending punishment: the man with Gorgon's head. Who was none other than Perseus. The Gorgon's head is Medusa's head. When Perseus showed him the head, Atlas' body turned into rock and his hair and beard turned into the forest. At last he was released from his long labor.
by Alexander Martinez
Source Book: World Book
Encyclopedia
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