The giant Atlas at the Archaeological Museum of Naples, Italy

Atlas, Farnese Collection

Sculpture – Marble (Height 100 cm) 2nd century

This statue of Atlas shows him straining to support the vault of heaven on his muscular shoulders.

Farnese Atlas To keep the celestial sphere balanced in his arms, Atlas is forced to rest it on the back of his neck by lowering his head and arching his back.

The weight of the sphere covered with the signs of the Zodiac is such that Atlas struggles to keep his balance whilst keeping his eyes fixed on it.

He can no longer stand upright and begins to bend his knees, as can be seen here, he is almost on his knees.

Atlas was a giant, according to some, his father was Iapetus and his mother, the Oceanid Climene.

His brothers were Prometheus and Epimetheus.

According to other accounts, he was the son of Uranus and had Cronus as his brother.

His strength enabled him to take part in the struggle of the Giants against the gods, which is why Zeus condemned him to bear the vault of heaven on his shoulders.

Farnese Atlas