Atlas (architecture)
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Atlantes, the plural form of Atlas, is an architectural term for support columns sculpted in the form of a man. Another name for Telamon. Compare Caryatid. Also the basis of the word "Atlantic".
Warszawa_Atlas.png
Origin
Atlantes originated in ancient Greece and the term is the Latin plural of the word Atlas - the Titan who was forced to hold the earth (or sky in some versions) on his shoulders for eternity. The first atlantes found are ones from the Greek temple of Zeus in Agrigento, Sicily but similar figures have been already made in ancient Egypt out of monolith. Atlantes were later used in many other cultures - including the Roman and Aztec - and played a significant role in baroque architecture.
The Atlantes of the Hermitage
When classical architecture was revived in the 19th century, many buildings included glorious atlantes that look much like the Greek ones. The most famous atlantes today could well be the ones placed at the entrance of the Hermitage Museum in Russia.
The portico of this building has ten enormous atlantes (approximately three human heights) carved from Serdobol Granite by the sculptor Alexander Terebenev working with one hundred and fifty assistants. Finishing such a grand project was not easy: each of the assistants worked on a specific part of the atlantes while Terebenev himself worked on the faces.
The design was first presented in 1840 and was picked out of two options: one with atlantes and one with caryatids (a female version of the atlantes). Terebenev is responsible for the entire plastic design of the atlantes. The figures were installed at the front of the museum on September 1st 1848. The architect of the hermitage spoke very highly of these sculptures and even said that had the ancient Egyptians made the figures instead, they would have not been any better than the ones Terebenev created.
The figures themselves are standing straight and proud, with their backs arched forward and arms holding the ceiling at head level. The heads touch the ceiling and bend down. The bodies of the atlantes are thin but very strong, with clearly visible muscles as well as ribs. The positioning of the atlantes involves each one of them having his back bordering a column, with two atlantes per column (except for the ones attached to the building which only have one) and six columns. This makes every pair of atlantes face each other.