Two mighty brothers served Zeus faithfully and well. Yet there came a falling out, and the anger of Zeus could not be appeased. One brother he chained to a mountain crag, and daily sent a great eagle to tear and rend his flesh.
One he placed in eternal servitude, to carry upon his shoulders the earth and heavens. And that was Atlas.
Torture, torment? More like Hades than Heaven! What a strange and obscene task was this!
"Mother, the Gods at times have been cruel to man. What manner of cruelty have they applied, what devices or creatures that give pain?"
"A strange question. But, yes, the Gods work in strange ways."
A sparkle lit her eye.
"There is a legend that once, in long ago times, there lived on earth only men. They grew proud and warlike, offended each the other and offended all the Gods. Zeus became very angry, and called unto him all the Gods. Long they parlayed, and angrily. And at long last they decided on a torture so inhuman, so merciless, so enduring that they hesitated to loose it upon even these undeserving earthlings. At last Zeus authorized the punishment."
She paused, stirred the pot in which vegetables were beginning to boil.
"And that was?"
A smile crossed her face.