No. Zeus punished him to do that after the gods won the war against the Titans. He was one of the ones that escaped Tartarus
In Greek mythology, Atlas was punished by Zeus and tasked with holding up the sky, not the world. The misconception of Atlas holding up the world likely comes from confusion with the Titan Atlas' role in supporting the heavens.
It could have something to do with Atlas holding the world on his shoulders.
Many people and paintings depict the titan Atlas holding up the world. This is entirely not true. When the gods of Greek Mythology beat their older relatives (the titans) in a war, Zeus assigned the strongest titan (Atlas) to hold up the SKY not the world.
The ancient Greeks believed that the Titans revolted against Zeus, and that for his part in the revolt, Atlas was made to support the heavens on his shoulders. This is often misinterpreted as holding the world on his shoulders.
atlas of world religions
Atlas was a titan in greek mythology and was a supporter of kronos in the war between titans and the olympian gods. He was the commander of the titan army, so Zeus singled him out for the punishment of holding the entire world on top of his shoulders. Since he holds up the entire world on his shoulders, it makes sense (at least to me) that a book of world maps are named after the holder of the world.
world atlas countries atlas, regional atlas
He tried to trick Hercules into holding the world on his shoulders
The name "Atlas" is derived from Greek mythology, where Atlas was a Titan tasked with holding up the sky, often depicted as carrying the world on his shoulders. This name symbolizes strength, endurance, and the burden of responsibility. In various contexts, including literature and geography, "Atlas" often refers to the idea of mapping or representing the world, further emphasizing the themes of exploration and knowledge.
Prometheus placed his brother Atlas at the western edge of the world, often associated with the Atlas Mountains in North Africa. He was tasked with holding up the sky to prevent it from collapsing on the earth. This punishment came after Atlas sided with the Titans in their war against the Olympian gods. Thus, Atlas became a symbol of endurance and strength, bearing the weight of the heavens.
An Atlas that shows all of the countries and continents in the world
An example of an atlas is the "World Atlas," which contains maps of all the countries and regions around the world, as well as information about their geography, demographics, and other characteristics. It is a comprehensive reference tool for exploring and understanding the Earth's features.