Philostratus Imagines, 1.20. Atlas — Philostratus describes a statue of Atlas, probably the same sculpture-type known as the Farnese Atlas, which is owned by the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli. However, Philostratus seems to know a second sculpture in the group, a recumbent Heracles.

     Next Heracles contended with Atlas — nor had Eurystheus dictated this interaction — how he could carry the weight of heaven better than Atlas. For, as the Titan bent forward and pressed down tight and crouching only on the other knee, with only a little strength remaining for him to stand, Heracles figured that he himself would lift heaven high and stand burdened for a very long time. He shares this self-estimation with nobody, but instead he said that he sympathized with Atlas for the burdens he was suffering and he would share his toils. Atlas was satisfied with this and received it from Heracles, that he begged Heracles to bear the burden.
     Atlas is depicted in his exhaustion, that is to surmise by his perspiration — so much of it comes from his body — and the arm of the trembling man extends upward. But Heracles loves the labor; and this is apparent in the urgent expression on his face and in the club's lying on the ground and in his hands reaching for the labor. It is hardly worthwhile to marvel at the shadows on Heracles' body, if they are lacking [in the copy you behold] — this, because the figures of figures shown in prone position and upright figures are really easy to shade correctly; and, further, accuracy for upright figures hardly requires skill. The shadings of the Atlas manifest skill, for they fall into one another on the crouching figure and obscure none of the portions that jut out; rather, they work the light around the sculpture's hollows and interior parts. One can see Atlas' belly, even though he is bending forward and perceive his shortness of breath; likewise, the details in the heaven he holds up are depicted in the ether, just as it appears around them — it is possible to discern both the Bull, i.e. the bull in heaven, and the Bears too, just as they appear there, and also the winds — some of the winds are depicted with one another; others apart from one another; some having affinity for each other, others seem to preserve their conflict in the sky.
     Now, then, for the moment you will lift these burdens, Heracles, but after this short moment you will be living among them in heaven, drinking and throwing your arms about Hebe's loveliness. For you will wed the youngest of the gods, her even — because she keeps them young — the goddess they most revere.
     — translation RTMacfarlane


     

ΑΤΛΑΣ. κ. καὶ Ἄτλαντι ὁ Ἡρακλῆς οὐδὲ προστάξαντος Εὐρυσθέως ἤρισεν, ὡς τὸν οὐρανὸν οἴσων μᾶλλον ἢ ὁ Ἄτλας, τὸν μὲν γὰρ συγκεκυφότα ἑώρα καὶ πεπιεσμένον καὶ κείμενον ἐς γόνυ θάτερον καὶ μικρὰ καταλειπόμενα αὐτῷ τοῦ ἑστάναι, αὐτὸς δ᾽ ἂν καὶ μετεωρίσαι τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ στῆσαι ἀναθέμενος ἐς μακρὸν τοῦ χρόνου. τὸ μὲν δὴ φιλότιμον τοῦτο οὐδαμοῦ ἐκφαίνει, φησὶ δὲ συναλγεῖν τε τῷ Ἄτλαντι ἐφ᾽ οἷς μοχθεῖ καὶ μετασχεῖν ἂν τοῦ ἄχθους αὐτῷ. [p. 373] ὁ δ᾽ οὕτω τι ἄσμενος εἴληπται τοῦ Ἡρακλέους, ὡς ἱκετεύειν αὐτὸν τλῆναι ταῦτα. γέγραπται δὲ ὁ μὲν ἀπειρηκώς, ὡς τῷ ἱδρῶτι συμβαλέσθαι, ὁπόσος ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ στάζει, βραχίονός τε ξυνεῖναι τρέμοντος, ὁ δὲ ἐρᾷ τοῦ ἄθλου. δηλοῖ δὲ τοῦτο ἥ τε ὁρμὴ τοῦ προσώπου καὶ τὸ ῥόπαλον καταβεβλημένον καὶ αἱ χεῖρες ἀπαιτοῦσαι τὸν ἆθλον. σκιὰς δὲ τὰς μὲν τοῦ Ἡρακλέους οὔπω θαυμάζειν ἄξιον, εἰ ἔρρωνται τὸν ἆθλον — τὰ γὰρ τῶν κειμένων σχήματα καὶ οἱ ὀρθοὶ μάλα εὔσκιοι, τὸ δὲ ἀκριβοῦν ταῦτα οὔπω σοφόν — αἱ δὲ τοῦ Ἄτλαντος σκιαὶ σοφίας πρόσω, οὑτωσὶ γὰρ συνιζηκότος συμπίπτουσί τε ἀλλήλαις καὶ οὐδὲν τῶν ἐκκειμένων ἐπιθολοῦσιν, ἀλλὰ φῶς ἐργάζονται περὶ τὰ κοῖλά τε καὶ ἐσέχοντα. τὴν γαστέρα καὶ προνενευκότος τοῦ Ἄτλαντος ὁρᾶν τε ὑπάρχει καὶ ἀσθμαινούσης ξυνιέναι, τά τε ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, ὃν φέρει, γέγραπται μὲν ἐν αἰθέρι, ὁποῖος περὶ αὐτὰ ἕστηκεν, ἔστι δὲ ξυνεῖναι ταύρου τε, ὃς δὴ ἐν οὐρανῷ ταῦρος, ἄρκτων τε, ὁποῖαι ἐκεῖ ὁρῶνται, καὶ πνευμάτων. γέγραπται γὰρ τὰ μὲν ξὺν ἀλλήλοις, τὰ δὲ ἐξ ἀλλήλων, καὶ τοῖς μὲν φιλία πρὸς ἄλληλα, τὰ δὲ σώζειν ἔοικε τὸ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ νεῖκος. νῦν μὲν οὖν ἀναθήσεις ταῦτα, Ἡράκλεις, μετ᾽ οὐ πολὺ δὲ ξυμβιώσεις αὐτοῖς ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ πίνων καὶ περιβάλλων τὸ τῆς Ἥβης εἶδος: ἄξῃ γὰρ τὴν νεωτάτην καὶ πρεσβυτάτην τῶν θεῶν, δι᾽ αὐτὴν γὰρ κἀκεῖνοι νέοι.