TITYOS (greek mythological giant)
Monster · Greek mythological giant
Driven by an overpowering lust, Tityos acted with boldness toward his mother, even dragging her by her veil.1,2 Apollo traveled through the region on his journey from Athens to Delphi, where he killed Tityos.3,4 Apollo and Artemis killed the giant with their arrows, and a tomb for him is located in a specific ravine described as accursed.1,2,5,6,7 As he lay dead on the ground, Leto laughed, and Tityos was abhorred by the blessed gods after his death.3
In the underworld, Tityos was stretched out across a plain covering nine acres.8,9,3 His punishment involved his liver and entrails being torn by vultures, while his flesh constantly regenerated to prevent the end of his suffering.8,10,11,9,5,1 Two vultures on each side dug their beaks into his liver, and he attempted to beat them away with his hands but failed, serving as food for these birds.9,12 Some accounts noted that his immortal liver was not being devoured at certain times, or that birds ceased their tearing when Orpheus played his lyre.13,14
The giant’s location in the dark world of souls was associated with the banks of the Styx, where he lay in a place where Danaus' daughters carry urns.15,13,16 Despite his torment, Tityos was reduced to nothing by continuous torture, appearing as an indistinct and mutilated phantom.17 His death served as a warning for men to only pursue attainable romantic interests, a moral lesson drawn from his tragic end.7
Honours were paid to Tityos in certain places, including an Heroum on the island and a tomb in a ravine.18 The mound of his tomb had a circumference of about one-third of a stade, a physical remnant of his existence in the world above.6 Fable places the abode of Tityos in the country of Epeius near Lebadeia, and a cave called Elarium in the island is named after his mother, while the conger eel is referred to by the name Tityos of the sea.19,18 Tityos is described as renewing his ancient and deadly wrath.20,21
The codex facts behind this entry
Tityos is described as a mighty giant of monstrous size. Apollodorus 1.4.1 +2 Tityos is identified as a giant born from the womb of Earth. Aeneid 6.576 +2
In the myths
Apollo and Artemis killed Tityos with their arrows. Apollodorus 1.4.1 +4 He is shown as already having been wounded in the body. Pausanias 10.11.1 +1
Fate
Tityos is punished in the underworld by having his liver and entrails torn by vultures while his flesh constantly regenerates to prevent the end of his suffering. Aeneid 6.576 +3 Tityus was killed by Apollo during his journey through the region. Quintus 3 ¶16 part 3 +1
