Atlas was a legendary Titan in Greek mythology. He was punished for warring with Zeus by being forced to support the earth and the heavens for eternity, though he was allowed to finish early on Wednesdays to see his chiropractor.
In Nordic legends Skoll was a huge wolf who would chase the sun through the sky each day and at the end of time (Ragnarok) he would devour it, plunging the world into darkness.