Atlas (mythology)

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Atlas

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | © World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Atlas In Greek mythology, one of the Titans, brother of Prometheus. Having fought against Zeus, he was condemned to hold up the heavens.

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Atlas

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | © The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Atlas in Greek mythology, a Titan who was punished for his part in the revolt against Zeus by being made to support the heavens (a popular explanation of why the sky does not fall). He became identified with the Atlas Mountains. According to a later story Perseus, with the aid of Medusa's head, turned Atlas into a mountain.

The word atlas to designate a collection of maps in a volume, is said to be derived from a representation of Atlas supporting the heavens placed as a frontispiece to early works of this kind, and to have been first used by the Flemish cartographer Gerard Mercator in the 16th century.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Atlas." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Atlas." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (November 12, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Atlas.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Atlas." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Retrieved November 12, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Atlas.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Free Article Holding up the world.(STARTING POINTS For Achievers)(Greek mythology figure Atlas)(Brief article)
Magazine article from: Success; 8/1/2009
Free Article The way of animal powers: historical atlas of world mythology.
Magazine article from: National Review; 7/13/1984
Free Article Rockefeller Center's iconic Atlas statue to get restoration
News Wire article from: AP Online; 5/4/2008

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