Atlas_1

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Atlas and Ladon

From The Atlas Variations, by Athanasios (121):

After a billion years, when Atlas had grown old and tired of holding up the world, he was faced with a dilemma.

Heracles, the son of Zeus, was on his way to the Garden of the Hesperides to claim the Golden Apples, which were guarded by the dragon Ladon. Zeus came to Atlas, and promised that if Atlas helped Heracles slay the dragon, Zeus would free Atlas from his burden.

But Atlas, seeing the beauty and innocence of Ladon, beloved of the Hesperides, could not slay the beast. Instead he stole the apples and gave them to Heracles; and so he was condemned to bear the weight of the cosmos for another billion years. But though Atlas grieved for his freedom, he was comforted by watching Ladon flourish in the verdant Garden.