Editing Giants (Greek mythology) (section)

====Sixth century BC====
[[File:Black-Figured Amphora depicting the Battle of Gods and Giants.jpg|thumb| A depiction of the Gigantomachy showing a typical central group of Zeus, Heracles and Athena. [[black-figure]] [[amphora]] in the style of the [[Lysippides Painter]], c. 530-520 BC ([[British Museum]] B208).<ref>Schefold, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2DA_Aze7F0C&pg=PA56 p. 56]; Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/8F58F440-D701-45DF-9D42-9F05021E88A4 302261]; ''LIMC'' [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-7524e4a3bcb9b-c 27185 (Gigantes 120)].</ref>]]

From the sixth century BC onwards, the Gigantomachy was a popular and important theme in Greek art, with over six hundred representations cataloged in the ''[[Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae]]'' (''LIMC'').<ref>Vian and Moore 1988; Schefold, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2DA_Aze7F0C&pg=PA51 p. 51], [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2DA_Aze7F0C&pg=PA64 p. 64]; Ogden, [https://books.google.com/books?id=FQ2pAK9luwkC&pg=PA82 p. 82]; See also Vian 1951; 1952; Morford, p. 72.</ref>

The Gigantomachy was depicted on the new ''[[peplos]]'' (robe) presented to [[Athena]] on the [[Acropolis of Athens]] as part of the [[Panathenaea|Panathenaic festival]] celebrating her victory over the Giants, a practice dating from perhaps as early as the second millennium BC.<ref>Barber 1992, pp. 103&ndash;104, 112, 117; Barber 1991, pp. [https://books.google.com/books?id=HnSlynSfeEIC&pg=PA361 361&ndash;362], [https://books.google.com/books?id=HnSlynSfeEIC&pg=PA380 380&ndash;381]; Simon, [https://books.google.com/books?id=AMTNIZ_LQjoC&pg=PA23 p. 23]; Euripides, ''[[Hecuba (play)|Hecuba]]'', [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Eur.+Hec.+466 466&ndash;474], ''[[Iphigenia in Tauris]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0112%3Acard%3D203 222&ndash;224]; [[Aristophanes]], ''[[The Birds (play)|The Birds]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:abo:tlg,0019,006:824&lang=original 823&ndash;831], ''[[The Knights]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text;jsessionid=EBE89320150BA26C965AD689D8DABDF1?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0034%3Acard%3D565 565]; [[Plato]], ''[[Euthyphro]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0170%3Atext%3DEuthyph.%3Asection%3D6b 6b&ndash;c]; ''[[Republic (Plato)|Republic]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text;jsessionid=6E0C79B2440716402D4400CF905F4A85?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0168%3Abook%3D2%3Asection%3D378c 2.378c]; Vian and Moore 1988, p. 210 no. 32. For the importance of the Gigantomachy to the Athenian Acropolis see Hurwit, [https://books.google.com/books?id=0pQ4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA30 pp. 30&ndash;31].</ref> The earliest extant indisputable representations of Gigantes are found on votive [[Pinax|pinakes]] from [[Corinth]] and [[Eleusis]], and [[Attica|Attic]] [[Black-figure pottery|black-figure]] pots, dating from the second quarter of the sixth century BC (this excludes early depictions of Zeus battling single snake-footed creatures, which probably represent his battle with [[Typhon]], as well as Zeus' opponent on the west pediment of the [[Temple of Artemis, Corfu|Temple of Artemis]] on Kerkyra (modern [[Corfu]]) which is probably not a Giant).<ref>Gantz, p. 450; Moore 1985, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gd81AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA21 p. 21]; Schefold, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2DA_Aze7F0C&pg=PA51 pp. 51&ndash;52]; Robertson, Martin, [https://books.google.com/books?id=BoUsvD1_VNQC&pg=PA16 pp. 16&ndash;17].</ref>

Though all these early Attic vases<ref>Akropolis 607 (Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/F8C80F34-7A75-4712-8FD7-E265EFE5492C 310147], ''LIMC'' [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-7426c59aa3230-4  9257 (Gigantes 105)]); Akropolis 1632 (Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/5F5F01AD-810D-4DBB-9356-E562BA2D5A4D 15673], ''LIMC'' [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-73e88da481d30-d 4867 (Gigantes 110)]); Akropolis 2134 (Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/B61DEF22-344B-47D5-B0E7-A7680D952ACC 301942], ''LIMC''  [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-7516741f70861-5 26166 (Gigantes 106)]); Akropolis 2211 (Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/82A9B36D-069A-45A6-A06F-11D7FA0A0529 3363], ''LIMC''  [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-74bf215896015-7 20013 (Gigantes 104)]).</ref> are fragmentary, the many common features in their depictions of the Gigantomachy suggest that a common model or template was used as a prototype, possibly Athena's ''peplos''.<ref>Moore 1985, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gd81AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA21 p. 21]; Schefold, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2DA_Aze7F0C&pg=PA55 p. 55], [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2DA_Aze7F0C&pg=PA57 57]; Neils, p. 228.</ref> These vases depict large battles, including most of the Olympians, and contain a central group which appears to consist of Zeus, Heracles, Athena, and sometimes Gaia.<ref>Gantz, p. 451; Moore 1979, pp. 81&ndash;84, ILL. 1. & 2.; Moore 1985, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gd81AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA21 p. 21]; Schefold, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2DA_Aze7F0C&pg=PA57 57]; Beazley, [https://books.google.com/books?id=rrhKNJaNBgAC&pg=PA38 pp. 38&ndash;39]; Day, [https://books.google.com/books?id=0cMLPoGmRHgC&pg=PA163 p. 163]. Several examples from later in the sixth century BC depict a similar central group of Zeus, Heracles and Athena. Moore 1979, p. 83 n. 36 lists as examples: Tarquina 623 (Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/622178EF-9C19-4FBC-B7C9-9C998B231893 310411], ''LIMC'' [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-7541284bf59f8-8 29174 (Gigantes 114)]), Munich 1485 (Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/6BA7826F-3FBE-4581-A4F0-551E315A11D1 302287]), British Museum B208 (Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/8F58F440-D701-45DF-9D42-9F05021E88A4 302261]; ''LIMC'' [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-7524e4a3bcb9b-c 27185 (Gigantes 120)]). Arafat, p. 14 n. 12, in addition to British Museum B208, also gives as examples Vatican 422 (Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/6882EE32-BAEE-447D-AE53-B7B62EC55CAF 302040], ''LIMC'' [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-754157e02a4f9-8 29187 (Gigantes 123)]) and Vatican 365 (Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/2DA7C493-0544-4EFB-9A35-C1717118E76F 301601]), however Moore says that Zeus is not present in Vatican 365. For British Museum B208, see also Schefold, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2DA_Aze7F0C&pg=PA56 p. 56]. [[Euripides]], perhaps referring to archaic vase paintings or to Athena's ''peplos'', locates Heracles and Athena fighting near Zeus in the Gigantomachy, see ''[[Herakles (Euripides)|Heracles]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text;jsessionid=779AD6C623207413812A728B409D9381?doc=Eur.+Her.+177 177&ndash;179]; ''[[Ion (play)|Ion]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Eur.+Ion+1528 1528&ndash;1529]; Vian and Moore 1988, p. 192.</ref> Zeus, Heracles and Athena are attacking Giants to the right.<ref>Rightward was conventionally the "direction of victory", see Schefold, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2DA_Aze7F0C&pg=PA62 p. 62]; Stewart, p. 128.</ref> Zeus mounts a chariot brandishing his thunderbolt in his right hand, Heracles, in the chariot, bends forward with drawn bow and left foot on the chariot pole, Athena, beside the chariot, strides forward toward one or two Giants, and the four chariot horses trample a fallen Giant. When present, Gaia is shielded behind Herakles, apparently pleading with Zeus to spare her children.

On either side of the central group are the rest of the gods engaged in combat with particular Giants. While the gods can be identified by characteristic features, for example [[Hermes]] with his hat (''[[petasos]]'') and [[Dionysus]] his ivy crown, the Giants are not individually characterized and can only be identified by inscriptions which sometimes name the Giant.<ref>Schefold, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2DA_Aze7F0C&pg=PA56 pp. 56&ndash;57]; Gantz p. 451; Moore 1985, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gd81AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA21 p. 21]</ref> The fragments of one vase from this same period (Getty 81.AE.211)<ref>Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/XDB/ASP/recordDetails.asp?id=79B9C21C-CF52-40F6-85C1-E00C4BBC5D60 10047], ''LIMC''  [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-743727dea0612-1 10415 (Gigantes 171)].</ref> name five Giants: Pankrates against Heracles,<ref>Moore 1985, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gd81AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA28 p. 28].</ref> [[Polybotes]] against Zeus,<ref>Moore 1985, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gd81AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA30 pp. 30&ndash;31].</ref> Oranion against Dionysus,<ref>Moore 1985, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gd81AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA32 p. 32].</ref> Euboios and Euphorbus fallen<ref>Moore 1985, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gd81AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA34 pp. 34&ndash;36].</ref> and Ephialtes.<ref>Moore 1985, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gd81AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA34 pp. 34&ndash;35].</ref> Also named, on two other of these early vases, are [[Aristaeus (Giant)|Aristaeus]] battling [[Hephaestus]] (Akropolis 607), [[Eurymedon (mythology)|Eurymedon]] and (again) [[Aloadae|Ephialtes]] (Akropolis 2134). An [[amphora]] from [[Caere]] from later in the sixth century, gives the names of more Giants: [[Hyperbius|Hyperbios]] and [[Agasthenes]] (along with Ephialtes) fighting Zeus, Harpolykos against [[Hera]], Enceladus against Athena and (again) Polybotes, who in this case battles Poseidon with his trident holding the island of Nisyros on his shoulder (Louvre E732).<ref>Gantz, p. 451; Arafat, p. 16; Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/55A90360-6C37-47D9-A4DA-8A81196212C5 14590], ''LIMC'' [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-73a49a0ddfe9b-f 52 (Gigantes 170)].</ref> This motif of Poseidon holding the island of Nisyros, ready to hurl it at his opponent, is another frequent feature of these early Gigantomachies.<ref>Gantz, p. 453; Moore 1985, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gd81AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA32 p. 32]; Cook, [https://archive.org/stream/zeusstudyinancie03cook#page/14/mode/2up pp. 14&ndash;18]; Frazer 1898a, note to Pausanias 1.2.4 "Poseidon on horseback hurling a spear at the giant Polybotes" [https://archive.org/stream/pausaniassdescr04pausgoog#page/n68/mode/2up pp. 48&ndash;49].</ref>

[[File:GR-delphi-tempelfries.jpg|thumb|left|[[Siphnian Treasury]] at [[Delphi]], North frieze (c. 525 BC). Detail showing gods facing right and Giants facing left.]]

The Gigantomachy was also a popular theme in late sixth century sculpture. The most comprehensive treatment is found on the north frieze of the [[Siphnian Treasury]] at [[Delphi]] (c. 525 BC), with more than thirty figures, named by inscription.<ref>Gantz, pp. 451&ndash;452; Stewart, pp. 128&ndash;129, plates 195&ndash;198; Schefold, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2DA_Aze7F0C&pg=PA59 pp. 59&ndash;62]; Morford, p. 73; [https://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/Sculpture/ashmolean/context/SiphnianTreasuryNFrieze.htm Drawing: J.Boardman, ''Greek Sculpture Archaic Period'' fig.212.1]; [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/artifact;jsessionid=5559FC6C86C9AB95D17FE6D7ACF0D4C6?name=Delphi%2C+Siphnian+Treasury+Frieze--North&object=Sculpture Perseus: Delphi, Siphnian Treasury Frieze--North (Sculpture)]; ''LIMC'' [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-73eab9f338a28-a 5020 (Gigantes 2)].</ref> From left to right, these include Hephaestus (with bellows), two females fighting two Giants; Dionysus striding toward an advancing Giant; [[Themis]]<ref>Brinkmann, N17 p. 101. According to Schefold, p. 62, Themis "appears here in the guise of [[Kybele]]".</ref> in a chariot drawn by a team of lions which are attacking a fleeing Giant; the archers Apollo and Artemis; another fleeing Giant (Tharos or possibly Kantharos);<ref>Brinkmann, N5 p. 92, reads only Tharos.</ref> the Giant Ephialtes lying on the ground;<ref>Brinkmann, N7 p. 94.</ref> and a group of three Giants, which include [[Hyperphas]]<ref>Brinkmann, N6 p. 92, others have read Hypertas.</ref> and Alektos,<ref>Brinkmann, N8 p. 94.</ref> opposing Apollo and Artemis. Next comes a missing central section presumably containing Zeus, and possibly Heracles, with chariot (only parts of a team of horses remain). To the right of this comes a female stabbing her spear<ref>Possibly Aphrodite, has been identified as Hera, but Brinkmann, p. 94 finds no trace of that name.</ref> at a fallen Giant (probably Porphyrion);<ref>Brinkmann, N22 p. 103, only the last four letters: ''ριον'' can be read.</ref> Athena fighting Eriktypos<ref>Brinkmann, N10 p. 96; others have read Berektas.</ref> and a second Giant; a male stepping over the fallen Astarias<ref>Brinkmann, N12 p. 103; others have read Astartas.</ref> to attack Biatas.<ref>Brinkmann, N11 p. 96.</ref> and another Giant; and Hermes against two Giants. Then follows a gap which probably contained Poseidon and finally, on the far right, a male fighting two Giants, one fallen, the other the Giant Mimon (possibly the same as the Giant Mimas mentioned by Apollodorus).<ref>Brinkmann, N14 pp. 98, 124&ndash;125. The fallen Giant Mimon against Ares is also named on a late fifth century BC cup from [[Vulci]] (Berlin F2531): Beazley Archive [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/record/46E5041B-1D5E-482A-8D61-D896ECDDF3DA 220533]: [http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/XDB/ASP/recordDetailsLarge.asp?recordCount=1&id={46E5041B-1D5E-482A-8D61-D896ECDDF3DA}&fileName=IMAGES200%2FGER22%2FCVA%2EGER22%2E1048%2E1%2F&returnPage=&start= detail showing Mimon and Ares]; Cook, [https://archive.org/stream/zeusstudyinancie03cook#page/n102/mode/2up p. 56], [https://archive.org/stream/zeusstudyinancie03cook#page/n103/mode/2up Plate VI].</ref>

The Gigantomachy also appeared on several other late sixth century buildings, including the west pediment of the Alkmeonid [[Temple of Apollo (Delphi)|Temple of Apollo]] at Delphi, the pediment of the [[Megarian Treasury (Olympia)|Megarian Treasury]] at [[Olympia, Greece|Olympia]], the east pediment of the [[Old Temple of Athena]] on the Acropolis of Athens, and the metopes of [[Temple F (Selinus)|Temple F]] at [[Selinunte|Selinous]].<ref>Gantz, p. 452. For the Temple of Apollo see: Schefold, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2DA_Aze7F0C&pg=PA64 p 64]; Shapiro, [https://books.google.com/books?id=6LUcuGdJF30C&pg=PA247 p. 247]; Stewart, pp. 86&ndash;87; [[Euripides]], ''[[Ion (play)|Ion]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Eur.+Ion+206&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0110 205&ndash;218]; ''LIMC'' [http://ark.dasch.swiss/ark:/72163/080e-74b025c09c19d-a 18960 (Gigantes 3)]. For the Megarian Treasury see: Pollitt 1990, [https://books.google.com/books?id=XoCNQwkNsLAC&pg=PA22 pp. 22&ndash;23]; [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.+6.19.12 6.19.12&ndash;14]; Frazer 1898b, note to Pausanias 6.19.12 "The people of Megara – built a treasury" [https://archive.org/stream/pausaniassdescr01pausgoog#page/n76/mode/2up pp 65&ndash;67], note to 6.19.13 "In the gable – is wrought in relief the war of the giants" [https://archive.org/stream/pausaniassdescr01pausgoog#page/n78/mode/2up pp 67&ndash;69]; ASCA Digital Collections, [http://www.ascsa.net/research?v=list&q=Megarian+Treasury Megarian Treasury]. For the Old Temple of Athena see: Schefold, [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2DA_Aze7F0C&pg=PA64 pp. 64&ndash;67].</ref>