> In Greek mythology, who was given the punishment of holding all of the heavenson his shoulders for eternity?And the answer: Atlas. As one of the twelve Titans, Atlas sided with the Titans in their war againstthe Olympians. When the Titans were defeated, Zeus condemned Atlas to stand atthe western edge of the Earth, and hold up the sky on his shoulders.Photo credit: Greek Boston[https://www.greekboston.com/culture/mythology/atlas-held-up-world/].The imageof a man cursed to hold the Earth on his shoulders is one which may be familiarto many of us, yet not many are as familiar with the true legend of Atlas. Notreally a man at all, Atlas the Titan was actually cursed to hold Uranus — thepersonification of the sky and the heavens. Atlas was of the second generationof Titans, and brother to another famed legend: Prometheus[https://www.askqotd.com/prometheus/] (perhaps good luck doesn't really run inthe family). During the war between the Titans and the Olympians, Atlas sided with hisfamily. Of course, then, when the the war ended, Zeus condemned Atlas by makingan example out of his rebellion. His brothers and sisters were banished toTartarus, the deepest pit of the underworld, but Atlas received a special task.Instead of the underworld, Atlas was sent to the edge of the Earth to hold theskies, forever separating Uranus (Heaven) and Gaea (Earth). For this reason,Atlas is often recognized in mythology for his endurance, even sometimes beingcalled Enduring Atlas as a means of recognizing his daily struggle andpunishment. Atlas went on to be regarded as the bearer of the heavens, which also had aclose link with astronomy. When sailors set out to navigate the seas, theybelieved that they were being instructed by Atlas, as were farmers when theyattempted to measure the seasons. Atlas' name now decorates everything frommountain ranges to navigational tools across the world.Learn more about Atlas below.