Home / Astrology / Rebel / Atlas Mighty Atlas Another face of Aquarius, ruled by planet Uranus, is that of the Greek Titan god Atlas. According to Greek mythologist, Karl Kerenyi, in ancient tales (now lost to us) the Greek Titan god Atlas was originally known as a cunning god of "dangerous wisdom." Furthermore, according to Kerenyi, some ancient sources gave Atlas credit for being the very first astrologer (don't forget that you heard that here, first). Frankly, I'm the very first person to admit that astrology can definitely be "dangerous wisdom." And with the planet Uranus ruling Aquarius, along with being the modern ruler of astrology and astrologers, the mythology of Atlas is obviously a "good fit" as the third face of Aquarius. Holding Up The Sky Anyway... according to Kerenyi, in the earliest of times Atlas owned the pillars that kept separate the sky and the earth. Atlas was likewise usually identified as being the father of the Hesperides nymphs, and of Maia and the other Pleiades. Ever felt like you have the weight of the whole world your shoulders? Well... contrary to popular versions you may have heard while growing up - Atlas held up the axis of the sky (not the earth). Atlas held up the vast heavens from the western edge of the Earth located near the Garden of the Hesperides. In one version of this story this holding up of the sky "thing" was apparently Atlas' fate and punishment as decreed by the chief Olympian thunder god Zeus. In this version of the story, Atlas (a Titan god) had once led the other Titan gods in a rebellion against Zeus, and so holding up the heavens was his divine punishment. Hercules, Atlas, Ladon, and the Garden of the Hesperides One of the more prominent stories that concerns Atlas was his role in one of the 12 Labors of Hercules. In this version of the story, the Hesperides are three Greek nymphs of sleep who live in (and guard) a beautiful lush garden of the gods. The garden is situated near Mount Atlas and at the very Western edge of the world. The Garden of the Hesperides was no ordinary garden! In this paradisal garden there was a special tree that produced apples of pure gold. The tree was originally a gift that the great Mother Earth goddess Gaia had presented the goddess Hera in honor of Hera's betrothal and marriage to Zeus, chief Olympian god. Hera's golden apples, besides being precious, were reputedly a source of immortality... and it would seem that these apples may have been also involved in the making of the special love elixir named Ambrosia (the nectar of the gods)... Ever had a modern day Ambrosia apple with its distinctly golden tint? Anyway... the goddess Hera didn't totally trust the Hesperides with the important duty of guarding her golden apples, so she gave them a fierce dragon by the name of Ladon. The dragon Ladon reportedly had anywhere from one, two, three or (as many as) one hundred heads. This fierce dragon lurked in the hollows of the dark earth, waiting for any thieves who might enter the garden... Enter Hercules Hercules, a son of Zeus and the mortal queen Alkmene, was the only Greek hero who ever succeeded in obtaining some of these golden apples. Hercules had been assigned the impossible Labor of obtaining one of Hera's golden apples in the Garden of the Hesperides. And in this particular version of the story, Hercules convinced the cunning god, Atlas (the father and next door neighbor of the Hesperides), to go and get the golden apples for him. The god Atlas had been at this holding up the sky "thing" for a very long time, and so Hercules knew that he (Atlas) would more than welcome a brief respite from his eternal punishment. According to Kerenyi, we're not told exactly what trickery Atlas then used to obtain the apples from his daughters (the Hesperides) and/or from the dragon, Ladon... The Double Cross But - by the time Atlas returned with the golden apples of Hera - it seems that he'd (being cunning) decided Hercules should be the one to continue holding up the sky for the rest of eternity. It would appear that Atlas was ready to go out and "get a life." Finding himself caught in a wee bit of a fix, Hercules somehow convinced Atlas that he (Hercules) was more than willing to continue holding up the sky - but that his shoulders were becoming very sore from holding up such a heavy load. So Hercules then asked Atlas for one small, tiny favor... The Favor Hercules cleverly convinced Atlas that he (Hercules) needed to prepare a pillow so that he'd be more comfortable in shouldering the very heavy task of holding up the sky. So Atlas briefly took back the sky, in order for Hercules to prepare a cushion. But when the sky was securely back on the shoulders of Atlas - Hercules said his quick goodbyes and took off with Hera's golden apples. Other versions of the this labor of Hercules tell of how it was Hercules, himself, that had to steal the golden apples while slaying the dragon, Ladon. Unfortunately all of the various stories are a wee bit short on details. FYI - Some sources link the fierce dragon, Ladon, with the constellation of Draco, celestial dragon and guardian of the Northern Pole. Perseus and Atlas From Roman mythology we have this further illuminating story about Atlas; where, rather than being a Titan god, he was a powerful and rich king: After the slaughter of Medusa, Perseus, bearing with him the head of the Gorgon, flew far and wide, over land and sea. As night came on, he reached the western limit of the earth, where the sun goes down. Here he would gladly have rested till morning. It was the realm of King Atlas, whose bulk surpassed that of all other men. He was rich in flocks and herds and had no neighbour or rival to dispute his state. But his chief pride was in his gardens whose fruit was of gold, hanging from golden branches, half hid with golden leaves. Perseus said to him, "I come as a guest. If you honour illustrious descent, I claim Jupiter for my father; if mighty deeds, I plead the conquest of the Gorgon. I seek rest and food." But Atlas remembered that an ancient prophecy had warned him that a son of Jove should one day rob him of His golden apples [Dr Z notation: this was, of course, actually Hercules]. So he [Atlas] answered, "Begone! or neither your false claims of glory nor parentage shall protect you;" and he attempted to thrust him out. Perseus, finding the giant too strong for him, said, "Since you value my friendship so little, deign to accept a present;" and turning his face away, he held up the Gorgon's head. Atlas, with all his bulk, was changed into stone. His beard and hair became forests, his arms and shoulders cliffs, his head a summit, and his bones rocks. Each part increased in bulk till he became a mountain, and (such was the pleasure of the gods) heaven with all its stars rests upon his shoulders. Chapter XV Thomas Bulfinch Age of Fable: Vols. I & II: Stories of Gods and Heroes. 1913. Return to Uranus - Rebel Without a Clue