Atlanteans hold the sky on stone hands

Every once in childhood, read the myths and legends of ancient Greece. There was a lot of interesting written about the gods and their adventures. Among them was the myth of the titans - the ancient Greek deities. One of them was Atlant, the son of the gods. Atlant was imprudent to get involved in the battle of the Titans against the Olympic gods. Of course, the Titans were defeated and punished. The punishment of Atlanta was - to hold on the shoulders of the firmament. This was a heavy burden and as soon as the case turned up, Atlant hastened to get rid of a heavy burden.

One day, Hercules came to him, who had to get into the garden of the Hesperides (daughters of Atlanta) and tear down the magic apples that give youth. The garden was guarded by many-headed snakes and only Atlanta or his daughters could get there. Here is Hercules and offered to hold the firmament, while Atlant goes for apples. Here Atlant returned with apples, but he did not want to take charge of himself and he was going to leave Hercules standing still. But he was smarter and quickly figured out how to hold Atlanta. Hercules pretended that he would stay, but only put the lion's skin on his shoulders. Type a little sky, Atlanta, I'll run for the skin. Naive Atlant put the vault on his shoulders and waited for Hercules. As you know, he did not return.

This myth began the construction of sculptures of the Atlanteans, supporting porticoes, cornices, balconies, beams, etc.

Everyone knows the famous portico of the Hermitage, whose arch supports the figures of ten Atlanteans in full growth. The height is about 4 meters, muscular, perfectly built. This was the old dream of architect Klenze. In 1840, Klenze introduced two portico designs: with Atlanteans and Caryatids. Sculptor Galbig performed a reduced model of the Atlantean in the form of a pharaoh and sent to St. Petersburg. But the Russian emperor did not like the model: "I'm building the Hermitage, not the tomb," he said, and ordered his architects to develop new figures.

In 1846, Terebenev produced, based on his own sketches, a life-size model of the Atlantean, which was eventually adopted. Then, within two years, under his leadership, ten figures of the Atlanteans were made. Worked 150 stonemasons worked, scraping huge granite blocks. But they were entrusted to do only parts of the trunk. The faces of the Atlanteans Terebenev did himself.

In St. Petersburg there are many more small atlantes on the Kirochnaya, Italian, Vvedensky, Furstad and other streets.

The most beautiful (in my opinion) decorative sculptures on the facade of the Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace.

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