Atlas/Talk

Wouldn't the term Atlantic be derived from the Atlas (person) not the architectural feature? -rmhermen

Question: Did Atlas hold the earth on his shoulders? Original sources indicate he stood on the earth and held up the heavens. Is holding the earth as well a modern retelling or does it have classical roots?

- The earth version dates at least from Rennaissance? times, if not before. Could the change have been due to 'artistic license'? (Easier to draw someone holding the Earth than the sky.) Or just a mistranslation?

Reference:

"Atlas"

Encyclopedia Mythica

http://www.pantheon.org/mythica/articles/a/atlas.html

[Page accessed on April 7, 2001]

Holding up the earth doesn't seem to be classical, at any rate - none of the authors know anything about it.

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Should there be mention of Hercules temporarily holding the earth for Atlas during one of his labors?