i wish to construct a perseus myth with atlas that has perseus somewhat retain his good nature. so first of all let me chiggity check ye old ovids version which seems to be the earliest version of the myth.
"But Atlas, mindful of an oracle since by Themis, the Parnassian, told, recalled these words, ‘O Atlas! mark the day a son of Jupiter [Zeus] shall come to spoil; for when thy trees been stripped of golden fruit, the glory shall be his.’ Fearful of this, Atlas had built solid walls around his orchard, and secured a dragon, huge, that kept perpetual guard, and thence expelled all strangers from his land. Wherefore he said, ‘Begone! The glory of your deeds is all pretense; even Jupiter, will fail your need.’ With that he added force and strove to drive the hesitating Alien from his doors; who pled reprieve or threatened with bold words. Although he dared not rival Atlas' might, Perseus made this reply; ‘For that my love you hold in light esteem, let this be yours.’ He said no more, but turning his own face, he showed upon his left Medusa's head, abhorrent features.--Atlas, huge and vast, becomes a mountain--His great beard and hair are forests, and his shoulders and his hands mountainous ridges, and his head the top of a high peak;--his bones are changed to rocks. Augmented on all sides, enormous height attains his growth; for so ordained it, ye, O mighty Gods! who now the heavens' expanse unnumbered stars, on him command to rest."-Ovid, Metamorphoses
So first of all it seems to me (nkosi) that atlas kinda became paranoid and kicked out 'strangers' from his land. but he is regarded as a king in this text but we don't hear a lot about his people. I'm assuming the strangers were his subjects he kicked out. perseus meets him, ask for help, atlas says no, insults him and I think shoves him away? "added force" and all that. and then perseus kills him. the question I have is why would perseus do something like that? (I mean its probably assholerly but I think that's boring so) i think I can rationalize it by saying that my homeboy did it for his new friends
"so when he was come to Atlas in the land of the Hyperboreans"-Apollodorus, Library
"Of the fairest glories that mortals may attain, to him is given to sail to the furthest bound. Yet neither ship nor marching feet may find the wondrous way to the gatherings of the Hyperborean people. Yet was it with these that Perseus the warrior chief once feasted, entering their homes...There with the breath of courage in his heart, unto that gathering of happy men, by guidance of Athene, came long ago the son of Danaë, Perseus,"-Pindar, Pindar Pythian Ode AND with THIS I think we can make a clearer version of perseus actions, the idea of the hyperboreans kicked from their homes, only able to return with the death of Atlas. Or maybe they are just unhappy with the big walls and the dragon. or maybe atlas is just a dick. or maybe I'm insane. I'm just trying to give some connection and story to the Hyperboreans and the perseus myth. if they ever make another clash of the titans movie they should INCLUDE the damn titan.
maybe the Hyperboreans feasted with perseus BECAUSE he killed atlas. (or temporarily killed) either way I think connecting them makes a better version of the myth in my humble but kinda half baked opinion
