Atlas

Atlas was the largest of the Titans, giant gods the ancient Greeks believed preceded the Olympian gods. When Zeus declared himself king of the gods, the Titans would not accept him as such, and thus ensued a long war between the Titans and the Olympians. After the Titans were defeated, most of them were sent to Tartarus, similar to Hell.

Atlas, however, was sent to a place far to the west, where he was condemned to stand bearing the weight of some great pillars, separating earth from the heavens. After eons, bearing the weight of the world, Atlas was so tired and weary that when Perseus approached, carrying the head of Medusa, the loathsome Gorgon whose look turned men to stone, Atlas asked Perseus to let him look at Medusa's head. When Perseus held up the head and showed it to Atlas, Atlas turned to stone, relieving him of his burdensome life. The stones now form Mount Atlas, in the far northwest of Africa.

English word: the word atlas means a powerful man, as in "Charles Atlas." The Atlantic Ocean is also named after Atlas because it is in the far west, where Atlas supposedly stood. Also, atlas means a book of maps, from images of Atlas holding the earth as a globe on his head and shoulders.