Definition of the word atlas

The word "atlas" originates from the Titan Atlas of Greek mythology, who was appointed by Zeus to hold up the heavens on his shoulders. In ancient Greek and Roman mythology, Atlas was tasked with bearing the weight of the celestial sphere, symbolizing his immense strength and endurance. The term "atlas" entered the English language in the 15th century, derived from the Latin name "Atlas," which was used to describe a collection of maps and globes. In the 16th century, the Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator created a collection of maps called "Atlas sive Cosmographicae Meditationes de Fabrica Mundi et Fabricati Figura," which was the first to use the term "atlas" in its modern sense. From then on, the term "atlas" became synonymous with a collection of maps, typically bound in a single volume, designed to provide a comprehensive overview of a particular region, country, or the world at large.