Giants
Giants
(Gigantes), in ancient Greek mythology, monstrous giants born of Gaea, goddess of earth, from drops of the blood of Uranus, god of heaven. Taking pride in their strength, the Giants revolted against the gods of Olympus. Only with the help of the Cyclopes, who forged thunderbolts for Zeus, and of Heracles with his arrows that could not miss were the Olympians able to triumph over the Giants. The battle of the gods against the Giants (Gigantomachy) was a popular theme in classical fine arts. The most striking example is the famous frieze of the altar of Zeus in the city of Pergamum (now in the Classical Collection, Berlin Museum).