Editing Talos (section)

== Narrative ==
Different literary sources provide a wide variety of accounts of in relation to Talos' role and genealogy. The most popular variant of the myth of Talos is that found in the ''[[Argonautica]]'' of [[Apollonius of Rhodes]] (fl. first half of 3rd century BCE). In this account, Talos is described as being a descendant of the [[Ages of Man#Hesiod's Five Ages|bronze race]] (χαλκοῦ γένους) who sprang from ash-trees. He is described as being bronze and also invulnerable with the exception of a vein in his ankle which was protected by only a thin layer of skin. 

He was given to [[Europa (consort of Zeus)|Europa]] by [[Zeus]] in order to protect Crete, which he does by running around the island three times.<ref>''Argonautica'' 4.1638-1644</ref> The [[Argonauts]] encounter him on their return voyage after obtaining the [[Golden Fleece]]. As the ''[[Argo]]'' approached Crete, Talos kept them at bay by hurling great boulders at the ship. [[Medea]] then declares that only she will be able to defeat Talos, which she does by performing a feat of magic from the ''Argo''. Summoning the ''[[Keres (mythology)|keres]]'' (female death-spirits), Medea causes Talos to graze his ankle, leading to the [[ichor]] draining from his body, and thus killing him. In describing his death Apollonius employs a metaphor comparing Talos to 'monstrous pine tree' (πελωρίη πεύκη, ''pelōriē peukē'') being felled, which could be taken to imply a larger-than-human size.<ref name="buxton-89">{{cite book |last=Buxton |first=Richard |date=1998 |editor-last=Atherton |editor-first=Catherine |title=Monsters and Monstrosity in Greek and Roman Culture |publisher=Levante Editori |page=89 |chapter=The Myth of Talos|isbn=887949290X}}</ref>
[[File:Comparable_to_the_Group_of_Polygnotos_ARV_extra_-_death_of_Talos_-_draped_youths_02.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A red figure Column Krater showing Talos falling backwards into the arms of Castor and Pollux while a crouching male figure tampers with a small nail-like circle on Talos' ankle. |The Death of Talos depicted on a column krater (Museo Archeologico Nazionale del Sannio Caudino, Montesarchio)]]

[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Pseudo-Apollodorus]] collected several traditions regarding the origin, form, and death of Talos. In relation to his origin, two theories are given: either he belonged to the [[Ages of Man|Race of Bronze]], or he had been given to [[Minos]] by Hephaestus (no reason is given). Another two theories are provided regarding his form: he was either a bull or a bronze man. Pseudo-Apollodorus further states that Talos guarded Crete by running around the island three times daily and that he had a single vein running from his neck to his ankles, which was stopped with a bronze nail at the end.<ref name=Ps.Apollodorus>{{cite book |author=pseudo-Apollodorus | author-link=Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)#Pseudo-Apollodorus |title-link=Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus) |title=Bibliothēkē |trans-title=Library |script-title=el:{{mvar|Βιβλιοθήκη}} |at=[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0548.tlg001.perseus-grc1:1.9.26 1.9.26]}}</ref>

Pseudo-Apollodorus also gives three variants regarding his death. The first two are at the hands of Medea: either she drove him mad with drugs, or, promising to making him immortal, she pulled the nail from his ankle, which caused the ichor to flow out. The final variant is that he was killed by the Argonaut [[Poeas]], who shot an arrow into his ankle.<ref name=Ps.Apollodorus/>