ALCYONEUS (giant in Greek mythology)
Monster · giant in Greek mythology
- Parents
- Uranus, Gaia
- Children
- Asteria, Alcippe, Chthonia, Anthe, Alkyonides, Methone, Drimo, Pallene
- In the sources
- 3 ancient passages
Alcyoneus, a son of Earth and Sky, was a great and terrible man of war among the Giants.1,2 Surpassing his kin in might, he was invincible and matchless in his physical bulk.1,2 A herdsman, his height was compared to a mountain.3
During the war against the sky, he hurled rocks and burning oaks alongside the other giants.1 He also drove away the cows belonging to the Sun from Erythia.1 In earlier feats, he subdued twelve four-horse chariots and twenty-four horse-taming heroes by hurling stones.2
Accounts differ on his birthplace, with some naming Phlegrae and others Pallene.1 Encountered at Phlegrai, he was immortal as long as he remained fighting in his native land.3,1 Heracles shot him with an arrow, causing him to fall and somewhat revive.1,3 On Athena's advice, Heracles dragged him outside Pallene, leading to his death away from his birthplace.1
In a separate account, he was destroyed by Heracles and Telamon during the destruction of Troy.2 His legacy includes children such as Asteria, Alcippe, and Pallene.
The codex facts behind this entry
Alcyoneus was one of the giants born from Earth and Sky. Apollodorus 1.6.1
Appearance
Alcyoneus was a great and terrible man of war, surpassing other Giants in might. Apollodorus 1.6.1 +1
Powers
He was considered invincible in his might and matchless in his physical bulk. Apollodorus 1.6.1 He was immortal as long as he remained fighting in his native land. Apollodorus 1.6.1
In the myths
Heracles shot Alkyoneus with an arrow, causing him to fall and somewhat revive, before dragging him outside Pallene to kill him. Apollodorus 1.6.1 +1 Heracles dragged him outside Pallene on Athena's advice, leading to his death. Apollodorus 1.6.1 He threw rocks and burning oaks at the sky along with the other giants. Apollodorus 1.6.1 He drove away the cows belonging to the Sun from Erythia. Apollodorus 1.6.1 Alkyoneus had previously subdued twelve four-horse chariots by hurling stones. Pindar, Nemean 4 ¶4 Alkyoneus had previously subdued twenty-four horse-taming heroes by hurling stones. Pindar, Nemean 4 ¶4 Alkyoneus was destroyed by Heracles and Telamon during the destruction of Troy. Pindar, Nemean 4 ¶4
Fate
He died after being dragged away from his birthplace by Heracles. Apollodorus 1.6.1
