ALCYONEUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Alcyoneus in Greek Mythology
In Greek mythology, Alcyoneus was one of the Gigantes, the giants of Greek mythology who went to war with the gods. Occasionally referred to as the King of the Gigantes, Alyconeus was regarded as one of the most powerful.
Alcyoneus the GiantAlyconeus was one of the Gigantes of Greek mythology, the powerful race of giants of Thrace.
There were said to have been 100 Gigantes, born to Gaia when the blood of the castrated Ouranos fell upon the earth. This blood was said to have fallen on the earth at Phlegra (also known as the Pallene), and so, Alcyoneus, and the other Gigantes were said to reside there. The Gigantes, though, referred to as giants, were not necessarily gigantic in stature, but were giants in terms of their immense strength. That being said, Pindar did say that Alyconeus stood at nine cubits high, or 12.5 feet tall. Alcyoneus was said to have had one special characteristic, for he was said to be immortal whilst he remained within the boundaries of Phlegra. Alcyoneus was regarded, along with Porphyrion, as the strongest of the Gigantes, and it was perhaps for this reason, that both Gigantes were sometimes referred to as the King of the Giants. |
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Alcyoneus and the Gigantomachy
Alyconeus, and the other Gigantes, are primarily famous in Greek mythology for the Gigantomachy, the war when the Giants went to war with the gods of Mount Olympus.
Some tell of how Alcyoneus was the cause of the war, for he was blamed for stealing away cattle that belonged to Helios, the Greek god of the Sun.
More commonly though, it was said that Gaia roused her children to war; not something that was difficult, because the Gigantes were known to be quarrelsome with no respect for the gods. Gaia’ reason for war, being the treatment of some of her other children, especially the Titans, by Zeus in particular.
Some tell of how Alcyoneus was the cause of the war, for he was blamed for stealing away cattle that belonged to Helios, the Greek god of the Sun.
More commonly though, it was said that Gaia roused her children to war; not something that was difficult, because the Gigantes were known to be quarrelsome with no respect for the gods. Gaia’ reason for war, being the treatment of some of her other children, especially the Titans, by Zeus in particular.
The death of Alcyoneus
Zeus was told that he could not win without the help of Heracles, and so Heracles joined the gods in fighting the Gigantes.
When Heracles faced Alcyoneus, the Greek hero, shot the Gigante with one of his poisoned arrows. Alyconeus fell to the earth, but rather than dying, the Gigante appeared to be revived. This was when that Heracles was told about Alcyoneus’ immortality whilst he remained in his homeland, thus upon the advice of Athena, Heracles dragged the giant beyond the boundaries of Phlegra, and there, the King of the Gigantes was killed.
It was said by some that Alcyoneus was subsequently buried beneath Mount Vesuvius; for it was said that earthquakes and volcanoes in the Ancient world were caused by buried giants and monsters.
When Heracles faced Alcyoneus, the Greek hero, shot the Gigante with one of his poisoned arrows. Alyconeus fell to the earth, but rather than dying, the Gigante appeared to be revived. This was when that Heracles was told about Alcyoneus’ immortality whilst he remained in his homeland, thus upon the advice of Athena, Heracles dragged the giant beyond the boundaries of Phlegra, and there, the King of the Gigantes was killed.
It was said by some that Alcyoneus was subsequently buried beneath Mount Vesuvius; for it was said that earthquakes and volcanoes in the Ancient world were caused by buried giants and monsters.
The Daughters of Alcyoneus
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Alcyoneus was said to have had a number of daughters collectively known as the Alcyonides. Commonly said to number seven, these daughters of Alcyoneues were Alcippa, Anthe, Asterie, Drimo, Methone, Pallene and Phosthonia.
When the Alcyonides learned of their father’s death, they sought to throw themselves in to the sea, but observed by Amphitrite, the goddess transformed them into birds, Alcyones (Halcyons), which are also known as kingfishers. |
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Alcyoneus and Heracles
Some writings tell of Heracles encounter with Alcyoneus not occurring as part of the Gigantomachy, but as a separate event.
One version tells of Heracles and Telamon encountering Alcyoneus in Phlegra, and that Alcyoneus was killed due to a combined attack by the two Greek heroes.
Alternatively, Alcyoneus was encountered when Heracles was returning to Tiryns with the stolen Cattle of Geryon. This battle though would take place on the Isthmus of Corinth. Alcyoneus killed 24 of Heracles men under a massive thrown stone. A stone thrown at Heracles was deflected when Heracles swung his club, before Heracles then killed the giant.
One version tells of Heracles and Telamon encountering Alcyoneus in Phlegra, and that Alcyoneus was killed due to a combined attack by the two Greek heroes.
Alternatively, Alcyoneus was encountered when Heracles was returning to Tiryns with the stolen Cattle of Geryon. This battle though would take place on the Isthmus of Corinth. Alcyoneus killed 24 of Heracles men under a massive thrown stone. A stone thrown at Heracles was deflected when Heracles swung his club, before Heracles then killed the giant.
Dionysus and Alcyoneus
In the Dionysiaca, by Nonnus, it was not Heracles who encountered Alcyoneus but Dionysus. The Gigantes were, in this case, said to have been incited by Hera to kill Dionysus, and that Alcyoneus had been promised Artemis as a wife, if the son of Zeus and Semele was killed.
Though, in this battle, Alcyoneus threw mountains at Dionysus, the god used leaves and plants to overcome the giant.
Though, in this battle, Alcyoneus threw mountains at Dionysus, the god used leaves and plants to overcome the giant.
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Colin Quartermain - Alcyoneus - 25th February 2020