Shrinking Banshee Presents:

Atlas

In early myth, Atlas is described as the King of Mauretania and master of 1,000 flocks of animals of every kind. He is also keeper of beautiful fruit trees. In this role he is visited by Perseus, son of Zeus and the princess Danae, who is returning from slaying the Gorgon. Atlas however had been told by an oracle that he would be dethroned by a son of Zeus and refuses to show Perseus hospitality. As punishment Perseus holds up the dead Gorgon's head and turns him to stone, it is this myth that identifies him with Mt. Atlas.

In the more familiar myth Atlas is the Titan son of Iapetos and Clymene, or possibly Asia. In this role he is the brother of Epimethius, Menoetius and Prometheus. He was believed to be the guardian of the pillars of heaven, and later believed to hold up the sky on his own shoulders. Atlas married Pleione, the daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. Atlas was the father of the Hesperides, possibly with Hesperis, the Pleiades, Hyaes, and Hyas, Calypso, Asterie and Dione.

When Atlas supported the Titans against Zeus in the war of the Olympian Gods, Zeus punished him by having to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. In the story of Heracles, Atlas is a real giant, who agrees to fetch the apples of the Hesperides, for Heracles' 11th Labor, if the hero will take his place supporting the sky for a while. It is Atlas' intent to leave Heracles forever in his place, but he is eventually tricked into resuming his burden.

Atlas Today

Atlas was played by David Press on Hercules.

The Atlas Episode

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

• Season Six: "Full Circle", played by David Press

David Press' Filmography

1. "Cleopatra 2525" (2000) TV Series .... Horst
2. "Shortland Street" (1992) TV Series .... Dr. Ian Seymour (1996-1997)
3. More Winners: His Master's Ghost (1990) (TV) .... Jason Penzalli
4. "Young Hercules" (1998/II) playing "Proaax" in episode: "Get Jason" (episode # 1.37) 2/2/1999
5. "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" playing "Garas" in episode: "Prince Hercules"
6. "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" playing "Glaucus" in episode "Eye of the Beholder" (episode #1.2)

David Press Links

• Shortland Street - Cast info on David Press, very brief filmography and an image.

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Image of Atlas as a slave by MICHELANGELO di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (b. 1475, Caprese, d. 1564, Roma), Courtesy www.artcycolpedia.com