Atlas
Although the oldest maps were made in ancient times, people really didn‘t begin using atlases until the 16th century. In 1595, a collection of maps prepared by Gerardus Mercator for the first time with the word “atlas” in the title. Since that time, a book of maps as an atlas.
Mercator used the word “atlas” in the title to show his respect for Atlas, a legendary king of Mauretania. Atlas was a great king, but he was also a great geographer. He was especially in astronomy and navigation and he invented the first celestial globe – a ball-shaped map of the stars. Surprisingly, the title page of Mercator’s book of maps wasn’t decorated with a picture of King Atlas, but it a picture of a mythological giant who was holding an object similar to the globe.
In Greek mythology, this giant’s name was Atlas, and he was one of the giants called Titans. In ancient legend, the Titans fought the Greek gods and lost. The winners then punished them. As a punishment, Atlas to hold the sky on his shoulders. He held up the sky many years. One day a legendary hero, Hercules, came to Atlas and asked him for help in getting three golden apples from Hera’s garden. Atlas agreed, but he Hercules, ‘Please hold the sky for me while I am away.’
Hercules took the sky from Atlas and waited his return. He was not as strong Atlas, so holding the sky was hard work for him. When Atlas returned with the apples, he looked at Hercules and thought, ‘If I Hercules here, I would be free forever.’ Hercules was clever and immediately realised Atlas wanted to do, so he thought of a trick. ‘This sky is an uncomfortable thing!’ he said. ‘Hold it up for a minute while I put pads on my shoulders. Then I it again.’ Unfortunately, Atlas didn’t see the trick. He put down the apples and took the sky back from Hercules. However, Hercules didn’t want any pads on his shoulders. He collected the apples and ran away with them, leaving Atlas to hold the heavy sky forever.
According to the legend, in the end Atlas turned into stone mountains — the Atlas Mountains. You will find these mountains in Northwest Africa. They fascinating people, climbers especially, by their height and beauty ever since.