Atlas in een berg veranderd 1606 - 1638

This engraving by Antonio Tempesta, made around the turn of the 17th century, depicts the transformation of Atlas into a mountain. Observe how Tempesta anchors the myth in the very literal act of metamorphosis. Atlas, his arms raised in a gesture of surrender or desperate plea, finds his lower body already becoming the rough crag of a mountain. Consider the figure on the winged horse, often identified as Perseus, shield in hand. This shield, reflecting Medusa’s head, is not merely a weapon, but a symbol of averted gaze. Perseus avoids direct confrontation, using reflection to conquer, a motif echoing the psychological defense mechanisms we employ to face unbearable truths. The transformation of Atlas is a potent image of petrification, not just physical but psychological. The fear of the gaze, the weight of the world—these are burdens that can turn us to stone. It is a recurring symbol that speaks to the enduring human condition.