SYCEUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

​Syceus was a giant from the tales of Greek mythology. Syceus was known to have taken up arms against Zeus, with the result that Syceus was eventually transformed into a fig tree.

The Transformation of Syceus

​Athenaeus calls Syceus a Titan, although most now consider him to be one of the Gigantes. Both the Titans and Gigantes were children of the Protogneoi Gaia, although of different generations. 

As a Gigante, Athenaeus was one of the hundred sons of Gaia, born when the blood of Ouranos fell onto her, as he was being castrated. This method of propagation being the same as for the Erinyes. 

The Gigantes are often named as giants of Greek mythology, although some sources tell of them not being gigantic in stature, but were just men of enormous strength. The Gigantes though, were troublesome in nature, and were quick to take up arms against Zeus when cajoled by Gaia. 

The Gigantomachy then followed, the war between the Gigantes and Zeus, and his allies. 

The Gigantes proved to be a threat to the rule of Zeus, and victory was only assured for Zeus, when Heracles joined the war, just as a prophecy had announced. 

As the war turned in favour of Zeus, Syceus found himself the next Gigante to face the supreme god. Syceus turned and fled from the battlefield on the Pallene, making for Cilicia. There, to hide him from the anger of Zeus, Gaia transformed her son into a fig-tree.

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Colin Quartermain - Syceus - 11th September 2021