Atlas: The Myth Of The Twelve Labors

Long ago, long before humans walked the Earth, there was a war between the Titan and the Olympian gods that lasted for a decade. It was a bitter war fought to decide who would reign over the world. Atlas, the leader of the Titans, and his Titan warriors fought mightily but had succumb to Zeus and his Olympian legions.
As punishment to the Titans, Zeus banished all the Titan warriors to Tartarus, a deep and dark abyss beneath the earth where they would languish in condemnation for all of eternity.
All the Titan warriors were exiled to Tartarus, all but Atlas. Zeus had masterminded a special punishment for Atlas: Atlas would carry the burden of the celestial sky on his back for all of eternity.
Atlas was taken to the farthest part of the Earth
Born to Zeus and a mortal woman, Hercules grew to be the strongest of all mortals, and even stronger than many gods.
Apollo, another Olympian deity and also a son of Zeus, engaged Hercules to complete the Twelve Labors over twelve years. Apollo offered him the promise of immortality if he completed each task successfully. The challenges were near-impossible feats. But Hercules was strong and he persevered, accomplishing the first ten labors in ten years.
The Eleventh Labor was to bring back the golden apples of the Hesperides from the western edge of the world. The Hesperides lived in an idyllic garden, which had splendid trees that produced golden apples. The Hesperides were also the daughters of Atlas. Hercules knew the daughters would never give him their prized golden apples. But, he also knew that Atlas was the father of the Hesperides.
Hercules conjured up a plan. He went to see Atlas.
“Atlas,” called out Hercules, “I would gladly take over your burden if you would do me one small favor.”
Atlas, who was stooped over by the weight of the sky, huffed and puffed trying to balance the sky evenly on his back. “And what would that favor be?” Atlas
He considered how sore his shoulders were under the weight of the sky. He considered how sore his legs felt under this burden. He knew he could convince the Hesperides to let him take the apples. Even more importantly, he knew this was his chance to become released from his punishment.
Atlas conjured up his own plan.
“Indeed, I will help you,” Atlas answered. With that, he hoisted the sky onto to Hercules’s shoulders.
Then Atlas went to his daughters. “Fair daughters, you must give me these golden apples. Please, I beg of you.” With reluctance, the daughters agreed.
Atlas hurried back to Hercules and dropped the golden apples at his feet. He then turned and started to leave.
“What are you doing, Atlas?” Hercules shouted. “You cannot leave me here.”
"Oh, yes I can.”
“I know you don’t want to carry the sky any longer,” Hercules sympathized, “and you did me a great favor, so I will continue to hold up the sky for you as I promised. But I need to get a cushion so the sky does not give me such great pain across my shoulders and down my back.”
Atlas thought for a moment as he knew how heavy the weight of the sky was. He responded to Hercules, “Fine. Go, get a cushion for your back. But return quickly for I want to leave this