ENCELADUS (mythological giant)
Monster · mythological giant
He fought against Dionysus as part of a group of earth-born spearmen.4 In a battle against the gods, Pallas sent hell's confusion against him, and a goddess drove her chariot and horses against him.5,6 During this conflict, Enceladus carried the uprooted mountain Ossa on his back.7
The accounts of his defeat differ; Silenus claimed to have killed him by striking the center of his shield, while other sources state that Zeus killed him with a thunderbolt.4,8,9 Following his defeat, the gods sealed him away, with Athena throwing the island of Sicily onto him as he fled, or Poseidon hurling the island down onto the giant.10,11 Smoke from his burning rose from the entire isle as he was buried beneath the island of Sicily, specifically under the mountain Aetna and the location called Thrinacia.8,11,3
Though buried, the giant is described as immortal.11 He continues to breathe fire from underground, and when he shifts his position, the fiery mountain above him thunders from its caves.11,12 His movement causes the mountain's peak to overflow and narrows the flow of Pelorus, while thick fumes cover the sky.12,3
His shifting makes the sundered land hope to return to its original state, and he echoes the wild cries of Demeter as she searched for her lost daughter.12,13 Despite being imprisoned, he is expected to rise again and hurl his weight against the gods.1
The codex facts behind this entry
He is identified as one of the giants defeated in a battle. Euripides, Ion 205-218 Enceladus was part of a group of earth-born spearmen who fought against Dionysus. Euripides, The Cyclops 1-40 Enceladus is described as one of the offspring of the Titans. Aeneid 4.173
Appearance
Enceladus is described as fierce. Seneca, Hercules Oetaeus act 4 ¶1 His body is described as being scarred by lightning. Aeneid 3.570
Powers
The giant continues to breathe fire from underground. Quintus 14 ¶34 When he shifts his position, the fiery mountain above him thunders from its caves. Statius, Thebaid 3.582 ¶1 His movement causes the mountain's peak to overflow and narrows the flow of Pelorus. Statius, Thebaid 3.582 ¶1 His shifting makes the sundered land hope to return to its original state. Statius, Thebaid 3.582 ¶1
In the myths
Athena threw the island of Sicily onto Enceladus while he was fleeing. Apollodorus 1.6.2 Poseidon hurled the island of Sicily down onto the giant. Quintus 14 ¶34 Smoke from Enceladus's burning rose from the entire isle. Quintus 5 ¶43 Silenus claims he killed Enceladus by striking him in the center of his shield. Euripides, The Cyclops 1-40 The goddess drove her chariot and horses against him during the battle of gods and giants. Pausanias 8.47.1 Pallas once sent hell's confusion against Enceladus. Euripides, Heracles 815-1015 part 2 Enceladus is depicted as being stood over by a female figure holding a shield. Euripides, Ion 205-218 Enceladus carried the uprooted mountain Ossa on his back. Seneca, Hercules Oetaeus act 5 ¶6 Enceladus echoed the wild cries of Demeter as she searched for her lost daughter. Statius, Thebaid 12.247-274 ¶1 Enceladus is expected to rise again and hurl his weight against the gods. Seneca, Hercules Oetaeus act 4 ¶1
Fate
Enceladus was killed by a thunderbolt from Zeus. Quintus 5 ¶43 +1 The giant was buried beneath the island of Sicily. Quintus 14 ¶34 The giant is described as immortal despite being buried. Quintus 14 ¶34
