Myth: In Greek mythology Atlas holds the world on his shoulders
01/01/07 00:00 Filed in: Famous
People
In Greek methodology does Atlas
hold the world on his shoulders?
Myth
In Greek mythology Atlas carries the world upon his shoulders as punishment for siding with the Titans against the Olympians.
Reality
It’s a common mistake. But Altas, along with his Menoetius, were punished for siding with the Titans. This is true. However, while Menoetius was confined to Tartarus, Altas was condemned by Zeus to stand at the western edge of the world and hold up the sky on his shoulders. In classical art Altas is shold hold a celestial sphere, not a globe.
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