Atlas
- Iapetus’ son - Leader of the Titan Rebellion against Zeus - Condemned
to eternally hold up the Sky - Cold Cast Bronze Resin
Condition: New
Material: Cold Cast Bronze Resin
Height: 32,5 cm - 12,8 inches
Width: 13 cm - 5,1 inches
Length: 13 cm - 5,1 inches
Weight: 1300 g
ATLAS was the Titan god who bore the sky aloft. He personified the quality of endurance.
Atlas
was a leader of the Titanes (Titans) in their war against Zeus and
after their defeat he was condemned to carry the heavens upon his
shoulders. According to others he was instead (or later) appointed
guardian of the pillars which held the earth and sky asunder. Atlas was
also the god who instructed mankind in the art of astronomy, a tool
which was used by sailors in navigation and farmers in measuring the
seasons. These roles were often combined and Atlas becomes the god who
turns the heaven on their axis, causing the stars to revolve.
Herakles
(Heracles) encountered the Titan during his quest for the Golden Apples
of the Hesperides. He agreed to take the heavens upon his shoulders
while Atlas fetched the apples. The hero also slew the Hesperian Drakon
(Hesperian Dragon), which in vase painting appears as the Titan's
tormentor, and built two great pillars at the ends of the earth, perhaps
to relieve the Titan of his labour.
In a late myth, Atlas was
transformed into the stony Atlas mountain by Perseus using the Gorgon's
head. The Titan was also the constellation Kneeler.
GRI 145-74773A5 ATΛΑΣ ΜΠΙΖ ΧΡΥΣΟ 32,5 ΕΚ - 58,75