Mythology 1: Greek (Titanomachy and Gigantomachy)

 The Titanomachy

In  Greek Mythology  the  Titanomachy was  a ten year series of battles fought in Ancient Thessaly, consisting of most of the Titans (the older generation of gods, based on Mount Othrys ) fighting against the Olympians (the younger generations, who would come to reign on Mount Olympus ) and their allies. This event is also known as the War of the Titans , Battle of the Titans , Battle of the Gods , or just the Titan War . The war was fought to decide which generation of gods would have dominion over the universe; it ended in victory for the Olympian gods.  

The Gigantomachy

“Gigantomachy,” one of the most popular myths in Greece, is a representation of battles between the Olympian gods and Giants in antiquity. According to the myth, the Giants attacked the gods, but the Olympians learned that they could only emerge victorious if a mortal helped them. The gods therefore called Heracles to aid them, and they won the battle.

Zeus, Heracles, Poseidon, and later Athena were the main protagonists fighting against the Giants in representations of this epic battle. In such representations the giants are represented as warriors, madmen, or snake monsters.

Some examples of representations of Gigantomachy are from the Altar of Zeus at Pergamon from the late 2nd century BCE. One of the scenes (pictured below) is of Athena battling the giant Alkyoneos. Athena grabs the hair of the giant as Nike (the goddess of Victory) flies down to crown the goddess victorious. Like in other scenes, the dying giant writes in agony and his face is a mask of pain. The emotional faces and often contorted figures are exemplary of Hellenistic sculpture