Where did the atlas get its name from?

The term "atlas" for a collection of maps is derived from the Greek mythological figure Atlas, who was said to hold up the heavens. This association was popularized in the early 16th century when the cartographer Gerardus Mercator published a book of maps titled "Atlas," featuring a portrait of Atlas holding the globe. The name stuck, and now "atlas" is commonly used to refer to any collection of maps.