Alcyoneus

Early sources provide glimpses of other versions of the story from the one that Apollodorus tells. Possibly Alcyoneus was not originally a Giant, but simply one of Heracles' many monstrous opponents.Gantz, p. 446; MacLean, [https://books.google.com/books?id=R8nMVkv_lZ4C&pg=PA100 p. 100].

File:Paestum metope heracles.jpg and Alcyoneus, metope from the first Heraion at Foce del Sele]]

Depictions of Heracles fighting Alcyoneus, named by inscription, are found on several sixth century BC pots (e.g., Louvre F208). The earliest extant representation of their battle probably occurs on a metope from the first temple dedicated to Hera at Foce del Sele, which shows Heracles holding a large figure by the hair, while stabbing him with a sword. Such a scene is also depicted on several shield-band reliefs from Olympia (B 1801, B 1010).Gantz, p. 420. Louvre F208: Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/4843C327-7B54-4D3C-9675-56AB63AA7465 6561]; Moon, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gd81AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA65 p. 65]. Metope: Bennett, [https://books.google.com/books?id=R7PP3wNr4zMC&pg=PA124 p. 124]. For a detailed discussion see Andreae 1962.

A terracotta frieze (Basel BS 318) and the sixth century BC pots show a reclining Alcyoneus. And on some of the pots Alcyoneus is apparently sleeping, with a winged Hypnos nearby (Melborne 1730.4, Getty 84.AE.974, Munich 1784, Toledo 52.66). These depictions suggest the existence of a story in which Heracles takes advantage of a sleeping opponent.Gantz, p. 420; Stafford, [https://books.google.com/books?id=3JDj7MRQAn4C&pg=PA118 p. 118]. Melborne 1730.4: Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/DE569155-E2D3-4B0F-91BC-39717EDEE899 201048]; LIMC [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-75077887769e9-a 25109 (Alkyoneus 11)]. Getty 84.AE.974: Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/1A2F7CAA-E6BF-4425-BC11-F0BFB61EB60C 16201]; Cohen [https://books.google.com/books?id=SCA2AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA66 p. 66–68]. Munich 1784: Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/51C4CA4F-2EC3-493A-83E0-1929852B219D 351331]. Toledo 52.66: Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/8C99CB41-B339-44E1-8CF5-116FED746C10 2190]; Moon [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gd81AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA65 p. 65].

The presence of cattle on several of the pots suggests that the story also involved cattle in some way (e.g., Tarquinia RC 2070, Taranto 7030). This last pot depicts Heracles, with a headlock perhaps dragging his opponent, which might be a representation of Heracles dragging Alcyoneus out of his homeland.Gantz, p. 420. Tarquinia RC 2070: Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/7D225D1A-D9C2-48B4-BAA6-F5D5839AC97B 332028]. Taranto 7030: Andreae, pp. 188, 189; LIMC [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-75029c283c045-a 24768 (Alkyoneus 17)].

The earliest mentions of Alcyoneus in literature, are by the fifth century BC poet Pindar. According to Pindar, Heracles and Telamon were traveling through Phlegra, where they encountered Alcyoneus, whom Pindar describes as a "herdsman ... huge as a mountain",Pindar, Isthmian [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0162%3Abook%3DI.%3Apoem%3D6 6.30–35]. and a "great and terrible warrior".Pindar, Nemean [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0162%3Abook%3DN.%3Apoem%3D4 4.24–30]. A battle occurs in which Alcyoneus "laid low, by hurling a rock, twelve chariots and twice twelve horse-taming heroes who were riding in them", before finally being "destroyed" by the two heroes.

The participation of Telamon and other mortals in the battle, and the lack of mention of any of the gods, or other Giants, seem to imply that for Pindar, unlike apparently Apollodorus, the battle between Heracles and Alcyoneus was a separate event from the Gigantomachy. And in fact Pindar never actually calls Alcyoneus a Giant, although the description of him as "huge as a mountain", his use of a rock as a weapon, and the location of the battle at Phlegra, the usual site of the Gigantomachy, all suggest that he was.Gantz, pp. 419, 445, 447. Pindar knew of the larger battle between the gods and Giants which he also located "on the plain of Phlegra", Nemean [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0162%3Abook%3DN.%3Apoem%3D1 1.67–69]; [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0162%3Abook%3DN.%3Apoem%3D7 7.90]; Pythian [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0162%3Abook%3DP.%3Apoem%3D8 8.12–18].

Scholia to Pindar tell us that Alcyoneus lived on the isthmus of Thrace and that he had stolen his cattle from Helios, causing the Gigantomachy, (Schol. Pindar Isthmian 6.47) and that Alcyoneus, one of the Giants, attacked Heracles, not in Thrace but at the Isthmus of Corinth, while the hero was returning with the cattle of Geryon, and that this was according to Zeus' plan because the Giants were his enemies (Schol. Pindar Nemean 4.43). The cattle shown on the sixth century pots, might thus represent either Alcyoneus' cattle stolen from Helios, or Heracles' cattle taken from Geryon.Gantz, pp. 419, 448. Apollodorus mentions the theft of Helios' cattle as an event of the Gigantomachy, but not the cause of it.

Alcyoneus is usually identified as the winged Giant battling Athena on the Gigantomachy frieze from the Pergamon Altar.Cunningham, [https://books.google.com/books?id=G8GiAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA113 p. 113]; Kleiner, [https://books.google.com/books?id=sgiuAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA156 p. 156 FIG. 5-79]; for doubts concerning the identification of the Giant as Alcyoneus, see Ridgway, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Y6Jj6rcIup4C&pg=PA39, p. 39], [https://books.google.com/books?id=Y6Jj6rcIup4C&pg=PA59 note 59, pp. 59–60].

An unascribed lyric fragment (985 PMG) calls the Giant "Phlegraian Alkyoneus of Pallene, the eldest of the Gigantes [Giants]".Gantz, p. 419. Claudian has Alcyoneus buried under the volcanic Mount VesuviusClaudian, Rape of Proserpine [https://archive.org/stream/claudia02clau#page/358/mode/2up 3.186–187 (pp. 358–359)]. while Philostratus says that the bones of Alcyoneus were considered a "marvel" by the people living near Vesuvius, where it was said that many Giants were buried.Philostratus, On Heroes [https://books.google.com/books?id=R8nMVkv_lZ4C&pg=PA14 8.15–16]. The Suda says that Hegesander told of a myth in which Alcyoneus had seven daughters, the Alkyonides, who threw themselves into the sea when Alcyoneus died and were turned into birds, the Halcyons (kingfishers).Suda, s. v. [http://www.stoa.org/sol-bin/search.pl?login=guest&enlogin=guest&db=REAL&field=adlerhw_gr&searchstr=alpha,1298 Ἀλκυονίδες ἡμέραι (Alcyon days, Halcyon days, kingfisher days)], s. v. [http://www.stoa.org/sol-bin/search.pl?login=guest&enlogin=guest&db=REAL&field=adlerhw_gr&searchstr=pi,79 Παλλήνη (Pallene)].

The late fourth century or early fifth century AD Greek poet Nonnus, in his poem Dionysiaca, mentions Alcyoneus as one of the several Giants that Dionysus battles in the Gigantomachy.Nonnus, Dionysiaca [https://archive.org/stream/dionysiaca02nonnuoft#page/256/mode/2up 25.90 (II, pp. 256–257)]; [https://archive.org/stream/dionysiaca03nonnuoft#page/426/mode/2up 48.44 (III, pp. 426–427]); [https://archive.org/stream/dionysiaca03nonnuoft#page/428/mode/2up 48.71 (III, pp. 428–429)]. Nonnus has Gaia set the Giants against Dionysus, promising Alcyoneus Artemis as his wife should the Giants subdue Dionysus.Nonnus, Dionysiaca [https://archive.org/stream/dionysiaca03nonnuoft#page/426/mode/2up 48.22 (III, pp. 426–427)]. Nonnus makes Alcyoneus nine cubits high,Nonnus, Dionysiaca [https://archive.org/stream/dionysiaca03nonnuoft#page/18/mode/2up 36.242 (III, pp. 18–19)]. and has him fight with mountains as weapons.Nonnus, Dionysiaca [https://archive.org/stream/dionysiaca03nonnuoft#page/426/mode/2up 48.44 (III, pp. 426–427)]; [https://archive.org/stream/dionysiaca03nonnuoft#page/428/mode/2up 48.71 (III, pp. 428–429)].

{{Commons category|Alcyoneus}}

• Mimas
• Enceladus
• Picolous

{{Reflist}}

• Andreae, B., "Herakles und Alkyoneus", Jahrbuch des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts 77: 130–210. 1962.
• Apollodorus, The Library with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0021 Greek text available from the same website].
• Claudian, Claudian with an English translation by Maurice Platnauer, Volume II, Loeb Classical Library No. 136. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd.. 1922. {{ISBN|978-0674991514}}. [https://archive.org/stream/claudia02clau#page/n7/mode/2up Internet Archive].
• Cohen, Beth, The Colors of Clay: Special Techniques in Athenian Vases, Getty Publications, 2006. {{ISBN|9780892369423}}.
• Cunningham, Lawrence, John Reich, Lois Fichner-Rathus, Culture and Values: A Survey of the Western Humanities, Volume 1, Cengage Learning, 2014. {{ISBN|9781285974460}}.
• Gantz, Timothy, Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary and Artistic Sources, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, Two volumes: {{ISBN|978-0-8018-5360-9}} (Vol. 1), {{ISBN|978-0-8018-5362-3}} (Vol. 2).
• Graves, Robert, The Greek Myths: The Complete and Definitive Edition. Penguin Books Limited. 2017. {{ISBN|978-0-241-98338-6|024198338X}}
• Hard, Robin, The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology: Based on H.J. Rose's "Handbook of Greek Mythology", Psychology Press, 2004, {{ISBN|9780415186360}}.
• Hesiod, Theogony, in The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Cambridge, MA.,Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0130%3Acard%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library].
• Hyginus, Gaius Julius, [http://www.theoi.com/Text/HyginusFabulae1.html The Myths of Hyginus]. Edited and translated by Mary A. Grant, Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 1960.
• Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner's Art Through the Ages: A Global History, Fourteenth Edition, Cengage Learning, 2012. {{ISBN|9781285288673}}.
• Moon, Warren, G., "Some New and Little-Known Vases by the Rycroft and Priam Painters" in Greek Vases in the J. Paul Getty Museum: Volume 2. Getty Publications, 1985.
• Nonnus, Dionysiaca; translated by Rouse, W H D, II Books XVI–XXXV. Loeb Classical Library No. 345, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1940. [https://archive.org/stream/dionysiaca02nonnuoft#page/n5/mode/2up Internet Archive]
• Nonnus, Dionysiaca; translated by Rouse, W H D, III Books XXXVI–XLVIII. Loeb Classical Library No. 346, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1940. [https://archive.org/stream/dionysiaca03nonnuoft#page/n5/mode/2up Internet Archive]
• Philostratus (the Athenian), On Heroes, editors Jennifer K. Berenson MacLean, Ellen Bradshaw Aitken, BRILL, 2003, {{ISBN|9789004127012}}.
• Pindar, Odes, Diane Arnson Svarlien. 1990. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0162%3Abook%3DO.%3Apoem%3D1 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library].
• Ridgway, Brunilde Sismondo, Hellenistic Sculpture II, University of Wisconsin Press, 2000. {{ISBN|978-0299167103}}.
• Smith, William; Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, London (1873). [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DA%3Aentry+group%3D14%3Aentry%3Dalcyoneus-bio-1 Alcyoneus 1.], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aentry%3Dalcyoneus-bio-2 Alcyoneus 2.]
• Stafford, Emma, Harakles, Routledge, 2013. {{ISBN|9781136519277}}.

{{Gigantes}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Gigantes

Category:Deeds of Athena

Category:Mythology of Heracles

Category:Helios in mythology

Category:Children of Gaia

Category:Greek giants