Ovid's Metamorphoses: Book 1, Episode 2 - The Giants

Summary

In episode three of the Metamorphoses, the Giants, a race living peacefully on Earth, decide to conquer Mount Olympus and overthrow the gods. They stack mountains to create a ladder to Olympus, but Jupiter, enraged, strikes them down with lightning bolts, leading to their downfall. Their blood stains the Earth, and Gaia, or Mother Earth, upset by their destruction, transforms their blood into humans. This version of creation is confusing, as Prometheus or an unknown god is also credited with creating mankind in the Ages story, leaving the origins of humanity unclear.

Takeaways

• 🗻 The Giants, a race of beings, once roamed the earth without causing harm.
• ⚔️ The Giants decided to conquer Mount Olympus and overthrow the gods.
• ⛰️ To reach Olympus, they began stacking mountains to form a ladder.
• ⚡ Jupiter (Zeus) saw their attempt and became furious.
• 🌩️ Jupiter used lightning bolts to destroy the mountain tower created by the Giants.
• 💀 The destruction of the mountain led to the Giants' demise.
• 🩸 The blood of the fallen Giants stained the earth.
• 🌍 Gaia (Mother Earth) was angered by the deaths of the Giants.
• 🔄 Gaia transformed the blood of the Giants into human beings.
• ❓ This contradicts other myths crediting Prometheus or an unknown god with the creation of mankind.

Q & A

What race is introduced in the episode and what were they known for?

The race introduced in the episode is the Giants, who roamed around the world freely without quarrels.

What led the Giants to attack Mount Olympus?

The Giants decided they wanted to conquer Mount Olympus to overthrow the gods.

How did the Giants plan to reach Mount Olympus?

The Giants began stacking mountains on top of one another to form a ladder in order to reach Mount Olympus.

How did Jupiter respond to the Giants' attempt to overthrow the gods?

Jupiter observed the Giants' actions and, in a ferocious response, threw down lightning bolts to destroy the tower of mountains they were building.

What was the outcome for the Giants after Jupiter's attack?

The lightning bolts caused the demise of the Giants, and their blood stained the earth.

How did Gaia, or Mother Earth, react to the destruction of the Giants?

Gaia, upset at the destruction she witnessed, transformed the blood of the Giants into human beings.

What confusion arises from the story regarding the creation of humans?

The confusion arises because Prometheus or an unknown god is credited with creating man in another version of the story, but Gaia is also mentioned as responsible in this episode.

Is there any further explanation provided in the episode regarding Gaia's role in human creation?

No, the episode does not provide further explanation about Gaia's role in the creation of humans.

What does the transformation of the Giants' blood into humans signify in the context of mythology?

The transformation signifies that even from the destruction of powerful beings like the Giants, life (in the form of humans) can emerge, linking humanity to the primordial forces of the earth.

What is the significance of Jupiter using lightning bolts in this myth?

Jupiter's use of lightning bolts emphasizes his supreme power and control over the cosmos, as lightning is often a symbol of divine wrath and authority.