The Pergamon Zeus Altar and the Gigantomachy - East Frieze

Michael Lahanas

The giant Klytios -Hecate- and Otos-Aigaion-Artemis-Group. The giants Otos and Ephialtes are children of Poseidon and Iphimedia according to Mythology killed by Apollon when they attacked the Gods in Olymp. Aigaion (or Aegeon) is one of the three Hecantocheires (Probably Briareus who according to Homer is called Aegaeon ("goatish"), a marine deity and son of Poseidon.) with the three heads. In mythology the stones could be as large as a entire island for example one such “stone” is considered to be the peninsula of Chalkidike. Athena protects herself with a shield. A serpent foot of the giant bites the shield. A dog of the Goddess bites Klytias. With a burning torch, spear and swords the Goddess with the many hands attacks Klytias. The next pair is Artemis who is fighting with her bow. An enemy, Aigaion, is on the ground in front of her and a dog bites the neck of Aigaion. Close to this pair is the Goddess with her chariot and her horses over a giant


Hercules, and

Details of Alkyoneous beaten by a snake. Alkyoneous was the most powerful giant who gained his power in contact with his mother Earth.

See Reconstruction by Langford Conference of the Department of Classics 1997 Florida State (Corporate Author), Nancy Thomson De Grummond (Editor), Brunilde Sismondo Ridgway (Editor) University of California Press ( 2001) ISBN: 0520223276

Ancient Greece

Medieval Greece / Byzantine Empire

Modern Greece