Typhon (Storm Giant)
creatureTyphon was the most fearsome monster in Greek mythology — a giant with serpent heads who nearly overthrew Zeus and would have ruled the cosmos.
The Myth
Born from Gaia and Tartarus as a final challenge to the Olympians, Typhon was immense: his head brushed the stars, his arms stretched from east to west. A hundred serpent heads sprouted from his shoulders, speaking in every voice. Most gods fled to Egypt in animal form. Zeus fought him with thunderbolts. In one version, Typhon severed Zeus's sinews; Hermes and Pan recovered them. Zeus finally crushed Typhon beneath Mount Etna, where the monster's struggles cause eruptions.
Symbols
Fun Fact
"Typhoon" for a massive Pacific storm comes from Typhon — the most violent force in mythology naming the most violent storms on Earth.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
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