Hecatoncheires
Briareus was the mightiest of the three Hundred-Handed Ones who helped Zeus defeat the Titans.
The Myth of Hecatoncheires
Briareus, also called Aegaeon, was the most formidable of the three Hecatoncheires — the Hundred-Handed Ones born to Gaia and Ouranos alongside the Cyclopes and Titans. Each Hecatoncheir possessed fifty heads and one hundred arms. Ouranos, horrified by their appearance, imprisoned them in Tartarus. When Zeus waged war against the Titans, Gaia advised him to free the Hecatoncheires. Briareus and his brothers Cottus and Gyges proved decisive — they hurled three hundred boulders at once in relentless volleys that overwhelmed the Titans. After the victory, Briareus served as Zeus's loyal ally. When Hera, Poseidon, and Athena once conspired to bind Zeus, Thetis summoned Briareus to Olympus. His mere presence — sitting beside Zeus with all hundred arms — terrified the conspirators into abandoning their plot. Homer records this episode in the Iliad.
Fun Fact
When three gods tried to overthrow Zeus, just the sight of Briareus sitting beside him ended the rebellion.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
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Gyges
🏔 titanhundred-handed earth-born power
One of the three Hecatoncheires, the hundred-handed giants born of Gaia and Uranus.
Cottus
🏔 titanfurious assault, hundred-handed combat
One of the three Hecatoncheires, the hundred-handed giants, embodying the fury of battle.
Kronos
🏔 titanTitan king of the Golden Age
The king of the Titans who ruled during the Golden Age and devoured his children to prevent prophecy of his overthrow.
Aegaeon
🏔 titansea storms, hundred-handed giants
A Hecatoncheir associated with sea storms, sometimes identified with Briareos under his mortal name.
Kronos
🏔 titanTitan, father of the Olympians
King of the Titans who ruled during the mythological Golden Age. Kronos overthrew his father Ouranos and was in turn overthrown by his son Zeus.
Briareos
🐉 creaturegiants,sea
One of the Hecatoncheires (Hundred-Handed Giants), beings of immense power with fifty heads and one hundred arms, allies of Zeus in the Titanomachy.
Menoetius
🏔 titanHubris, Recklessness
A second-generation Titan struck down by Zeus for his violent pride during the war between gods and Titans.
Atlas
🏔 titanTitan condemned to hold the sky
The Titan condemned to bear the weight of the heavens on his shoulders at the western edge of the world for eternity.
Kratos
🏔 titanstrength, might, power
The personification of strength and ruling power, son of Pallas and Styx, divine executor of Zeus's commands.
Hecatoncheires
🐉 creatureHundred-handed giants
The Hecatoncheires were three giants, each with a hundred hands and fifty heads — the most powerful beings born before the Olympians.
Menoetius
🏔 titanTitan of violent anger and rash action
A Titan struck down by Zeus for his hubris and violent temper during the war between Titans and Olympians.
Atlas
🏔 titanTitan condemned to hold up the sky
The Titan who was condemned to hold the celestial sphere on his shoulders for eternity. His name became synonymous with endurance and with books of maps.