Atlantis vs. Atlas — What's the Difference?

Atlantis (Ancient Greek: Ἀτλαντὶς νῆσος, Atlantis nesos, "island of Atlas") is a fictional island mentioned in an allegory on the hubris of nations in Plato's works Timaeus and Critias, wherein it represents the antagonist naval power that besieges "Ancient Athens", the pseudo-historic embodiment of Plato's ideal state in The Republic. In the story, Athens repels the Atlantean attack unlike any other nation of the known world, supposedly bearing witness to the superiority of Plato's concept of a state.

An atlas is a collection of maps; it is typically a bundle of maps of Earth or a region of Earth. Atlases have traditionally been bound into book form, but today many atlases are in multimedia formats.

A legendary island in the Atlantic Ocean west of Gibraltar, said by Plato to have sunk beneath the sea during an earthquake.

Greek Mythology A Titan condemned by Zeus to support the heavens upon his shoulders.

According to legend, an island in the Atlantic Ocean that Plato said was swallowed by an earthquake

Atlas A person who supports a great burden.

A book or bound collection of maps, sometimes with supplementary illustrations and graphic analyses.

A volume of tables, charts, or plates that systematically illustrates a particular subject

A large size of drawing paper, measuring 26 × 33 or 26 × 34 inches.

Pl. at·lan·tes (ăt-lăntēz) Architecture A standing or kneeling figure of a man used as a supporting column, as for an entablature or balcony. Also called telamon.

(Anatomy) The top or first cervical vertebra of the neck, which supports the skull.

A bound collection of maps often including tables, illustrations or other text.

A bound collection of tables, illustrations etc. on any given subject.

A detailed visual conspectus of something of great and multi-faceted complexity, with its elements splayed so as to be presented in as discrete a manner as possible whilst retaining a realistic view of the whole.

A family of coordinate charts that cover a manifold.

(anatomy) The uppermost vertebra of the cervical spine in the neck in humans and some other animals.

One who supports a heavy burden; mainstay.

(architecture) A figure of a man used as a column.

(paper) A sheet of paper measuring 26 inches by 34 inches.

(historical) A rich satin fabric.

One who sustains a great burden.

The first vertebra of the neck, articulating immediately with the skull, thus sustaining the globe of the head, whence the name.

A collection of maps in a volume

A volume of plates illustrating any subject.

A work in which subjects are exhibited in a tabular from or arrangement; as, an historical atlas.

A large, square folio, resembling a volume of maps; - called also atlas folio.

A rich kind of satin manufactured in India.

(Greek mythology) a Titan who was forced by Zeus to bear the sky on his shoulders

A collection of maps in book form

The 1st cervical vertebra

A figure of a man used as a supporting column