Heracles and Atlas Act
The Myth of Atlas
Act 1: Atlas and Hercules
Narrator: After the Olympians won the war against the Titans, Zeus punished Atlas, who was one of the Titans, to hold up the heavens for eternity. Atlas was also likely the father or grandfather of the Hesperides, who were responsible for guarding a tree that bore apples of gold. Hercules needed to acquire some of these golden apples for a task he was given, so he went to atlas to ask for his assistance.
Hercules: Mighty Atlas, would you fetch me some golden apples from the Hesperides?
Narrator: Holding up the sky was a great burden for Atlas, so he took the opportunity to have a rest from the tiring work.
Atlas: I will get the golden apples for you. But you will, of course, need to support the heavens while I am away.
Narrator: Hercules, being a Demi-God, was strong enough to hold up the sky for a time. So Hercules took the sky from him and Atlas went away. While Atlas was returning after obtaining the apples, he thought of a plot to deceive Hercules.
Atlas: If I leave Hercules here to hold up the sky for me, I can walk away free.
Narrator: But Hercules was clever, and he discerned what Atlas was planning.
Atlas: If you can hold up the sky a little longer, I will personally deliver the apples for you.
Hercules: Actually, this is a very heavy burden. If you could take the heavens from me for just a moment, I could readjust my position.
Narrator: Atlas found no problem with this, so he put the apples down and took the sky from Hercules. Now that Atlas was holding the sky again, Hercules, Snatched the golden apples and departed, leaving Atlas behind.
Act 2: Atlas and Perseus
Act 1: Atlas and Hercules
Narrator: After the Olympians won the war against the Titans, Zeus punished Atlas, who was one of the Titans, to hold up the heavens for eternity. Atlas was also likely the father or grandfather of the Hesperides, who were responsible for guarding a tree that bore apples of gold. Hercules needed to acquire some of these golden apples for a task he was given, so he went to atlas to ask for his assistance.
Hercules: Mighty Atlas, would you fetch me some golden apples from the Hesperides?
Narrator: Holding up the sky was a great burden for Atlas, so he took the opportunity to have a rest from the tiring work.
Atlas: I will get the golden apples for you. But you will, of course, need to support the heavens while I am away.
Narrator: Hercules, being a Demi-God, was strong enough to hold up the sky for a time. So Hercules took the sky from him and Atlas went away. While Atlas was returning after obtaining the apples, he thought of a plot to deceive Hercules.
Atlas: If I leave Hercules here to hold up the sky for me, I can walk away free.
Narrator: But Hercules was clever, and he discerned what Atlas was planning.
Atlas: If you can hold up the sky a little longer, I will personally deliver the apples for you.
Hercules: Actually, this is a very heavy burden. If you could take the heavens from me for just a moment, I could readjust my position.
Narrator: Atlas found no problem with this, so he put the apples down and took the sky from Hercules. Now that Atlas was holding the sky again, Hercules, Snatched the golden apples and departed, leaving Atlas behind.
Act 2: Atlas and Perseus