Hecanthochres
by Ignazio Caloggero
Reference page: Repertory of Cults and Myths
The Ecantochiri: Briareo (or Egeone), Cotto and Gige (or Gie), are three giants with central arms and fifty heads. Just like the Titans and the Cyclopes, they are children of Uranus and Gea. In Hesiod's Theogony we find them, together with the Cyclops, allies of the Olympian gods in the war between the Titans against the gods (Titanomachy)
The Hecatoncheires have been linked to lava flows and associated with the legendary people of the Laestrygonians [1] . Considering the volcano Etna as the entrance to the underworld, it is possible to hypothesize that the Hecatoncheires maintained the same role of defenders of the entrance to the underworld. In fact, in Greek mythology, the Hecatoncheires, once imprisoned in Tartarus by Uranus, were forced to guard the entrance door. They were freed by Zeus who involved them in the fight against the Titans.
[1] https://www.beniculturali.it/comunicato/nuove-ipotesi-sul-mito-dei-giganti-i-ciclopi-i-lestrigoni
Excerpt from the book “ Myths of Ancient Sicily” by Ignazio Caloggero ISBN:9788832060157 © 2022 Centro Studi Helios srl
