Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

hero temporarily bears the heavens

hero_temporarily_bears_the_heavens

A motif of the World Axis and Sacred Center family, within the sub-family Cosmic Bearers and Sky Supports. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

2 occurrences

1 traditions


roman

  • The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV BOOK THE NINTH. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 2929-3006 confidence: high

    Hercules kills Busiris, delivers Atlas, is said to support the heavens for a time, and receives sheep or orange and lemon trees later represented as golden apples watched by a dragon in the garden of the Hesperides.

    Hercules is said to have supported the heavens on his shoulders for a time to relieve Atlas.

    read in the book
  • The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV BOOK THE NINTH. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 2929-3006 confidence: high

    Hercules kills Busiris of Egypt, delivers Atlas from Busiris' enmity, advises the Mauritanian king, and is said to support the heavens for a time to relieve Atlas.

    The passage says Hercules was said to support the heavens for a time on his shoulders to relieve Atlas.

    read in the book