At one point in Greek mythological history, there was an epic battle between the Titans and the Olympian gods for control over the heavens. Well, the Olympians won and Zeus condemned Atlas (as the leader of the Titans) to hold the heavens on his shoulders as punishment. That’s right, Atlas held the heavens on his shoulders, not the earth as is the common misconception. (Granted, the earth is much easier to depict in sculpture than the heavens.)