ASCHAPART, a giant 30 feet high, and with 12 inches between his eyes.
Slain by Sir Bevis of Southampton.—_British Fable._
ATLAS, the giant of the Atlas Mountains, who carries the world on his
back. A book of maps is called an “atlas” from this giant.—_Greek
Fable_.
BALAN, “bravest and strongest of the giant race.”—_Amădis of Gaul_.
BELLE, famous for his three leaps, which gave names to the places called
Wanlip, Burstall, and Bellegrave.—_British Fable_.
BELLE´RUS, the giant from whom Cornwall derived its name
“Bellerium.”—_British Fable_. Milton: Lycidas.
BLUNDERBORE (3 _syl._), the giant who was drowned because Jack scuttled
his boat.—_Jack the Giant-killer_.
BRIARE´OS (4 _syl._), a giant with a hundred hands. One of the
Titans.—_Greek Fable_.
BROBDINGNAG, a country of giants, to whom an ordinary-sized man was “not
half so big as a round little worm pricked from the lazy finger of a
maid.”—Swift, _Gulliver’s Travels_.
BRONTES (2 _syl._), one of the Cyclops.—_Greek Fable_.
BURLONG, a giant mentioned in the romance of _Sir Tryamour_.
CACUS, of Mount Aventine, who dragged the oxen of Hereculês into his
cave tail foremost.—_Greek Fable_.
CALIG´ORANT, the Egyptian giant, who entrapped travellers with an
invisible net.—Ariosto.
CARACULIAMBO, the giant that Don Quixote intended should kneel at the
foot of Dulcin´ea.—Cervantes, _Don Quixote_.
CEUS or CŒUS, son of Heaven and Earth. He married Phœbê, and was the
father of Latōna.—_Greek Fable_.
CHALBROTH, the stem of all the giant race.—Rabelais, _Pantagruel_.
CHRISTOPHERUS, or ST. CHRISTOPHER, the giant who carried Christ across a
ford, and was well-nigh borne down with the “child’s” ever-increasing
weight.—_Christian Legend_.
CLYTIOUS, one of the giants who made war upon the gods. Vulcan killed
him with a red-hot iron mace.—_Greek Fable_.
COLBRAND, the Danish giant slain by Guy of Warwick.—_British Fable_.
CORFLAMBO, a giant who was always attended by a dwarf.—Spenser, _Faëry
Queen_, iv. 8.
CORMORAN´, the Cornish giant who fell into a pit twenty feet deep, dug
by Jack and filmed over with a thin layer of grass and gravel.—_Jack the
Giant-killer_.
CORMORANT, a giant discomfited by Sir Brian.—Spenser, _Faëry Queen_, vi.
4.
COULIN, the British giant pursued by Debon, and killed by falling into a
deep chasm.—_British Fable_.
CYCLOPS, giants with only one eye, and that in the middle of the
forhead. They lived in Sicily, and were blacksmiths.—_Greek Fable_.
DESPAIR, of Doubting Castle, who found Christian and Hopeful asleep on
his grounds, and thrust them into a dungeon. He evilly entreated them,
but they made their escape by the key “Promise.”—Bunyan, _Pilgrim’s
Progress_, i.
DONDASCH, a giant contemporary with Seth. “There were giants in the
earth in those days.”—_Oriental Fable_.
ENCEL´ADOS, “most powerful of the giant race.” Overwhelmed under Mount
Etna.—_Greek Fable_.
EPHIALTES (4 _syl_.), a giant who grew nine inches every month.—_Greek
Fable_.
ERIX, son of Goliah [_si_.] and grandson of Atlas. He invented
legerdemain.—Duchat, _Œuvres de Rabelais_ (1711).
EU´RYTOS, one of the giants that made war with the gods. Bacchus killed
him with his thyrsus.—_Greek Fable_.
FERRACUTE, a giant 36 feet in height, with the strength of forty
men.—_Turpin’s Chronicle_.
FERRAGUS, a Portuguese giant.—_Valentine and Orson_.
FIERABRAS, of Alexandria, “the greatest giant that ever walked the
earth.”—_Mediæval Romance_.
FION, son of Comnal, an enormous giant, who could place his feet on two
mountains, and then stoop and drink from a stream in the valley
between.—_Gaelic Legend_.
FIORGWYN, the gigantic father of Frigga.—_Scandinavian Mythology_.
FRACASSUS, father of Ferrăgus, and son of Morgantê.
Primus erat quidam Fracassus prole gigantis,
Cujus stirps olim Morganto venit ab illo.
Qui bacchioconem campanæ ferre solebat,
Cum quo mille hominum colpos fracasset in uno Merlin Cocaius [_i.e._
Théophile Folengo],
_Histoire Macaronique_ (1606).
GABBARA, the father of Goliah [_sic_] of Secondille, and inventor of the
custom of drinking healths.—Duchat, _Œuvres de Rabelais_ (1711).
GALAPAS, the giant slain by King Arthur.—Sir T. Malory, _History of
Prince Arthur_.
GALLIGANTUS, the giant who lived with Hocus-Pocus the conjuror.—_Jack
the Giant-killer_.
GARAGANTUA, same as Gargantua (_q.v._).
GARGANTUA, a giant so large that it required 900 ells of linen for the
_body_ of his shirt, and 200 more for the _gussets_; 406 ells of velvet
for his shoes, and 1100 cow-hides for their soles. His toothpick was an
elephant’s tusk, and 17,913 cows were required to give him milk. This
was the giant who swallowed five pilgrims, with their staves, in a
salad.—Rabelais, _Gargantua_.
GEMMAGOG, son of the giant Oromedon, and inventor of Poulan shoes,
_i.e._ shoes with a spur behind, and turned-up toes fastened to the
knees. These shoes were forbidden by Charles V. of France, in 1365, but
the fashion revived again.—Duchat, _Œuvres de Rabelais_ (1711).
GERYON´EO, a giant with three bodies [_Philip II. of Spain_].—Spenser,
_Faëry Queen_, v. 11.
GIRALDA, the giantess. A statue of victory on the top of an old Moorish
tower in Seville.
GODMER, son of Albion, a British giant slain by Canu´tus, one of the
companions of Brute.—Spenser, _Faëry Queen_, ii. 10.
GOEM´AGOT, the Cornish giant who wrestled with Cori´neus (3 _syl._), and
was hurled over a rock into the sea. The place where he fell was called
“Lam Goëmagot.”—Geoffrey, _British History_.
GOGMAGOG, king of the giant race of Albion when Brute colonized the
island. He was slain by Cori´neus. The two statues of Guildhall
represent Gogmagog and Corineus. The giant carries a pole-axe and spiked
balls. This is the same as Goëmagot.
GRANGOUSIA, the giant king of Utopia.—Rabelais, _Pantagruel_.
GRANTORTO, the giant who withheld the inheritance of Ire´na.—Spenser,
_Faëry Queen_, v.
GRIM, the giant slain by Greatheart, because he tried to stop pilgrims
on their way to the Celestial City.—Bunyan, _Pilgrim’s Progress_, ii.
GRUM´BO, the giant up whose sleeve Tom Thumb crept. The giant, thinking
some insect had crawled up his sleeve, gave it a shake, and Tom fell
into the sea, when a fish swallowed him.—_Tom Thumb_.
GYGES, who had fifty heads and a hundred hands. He was one of the
Titans.—_Greek Fable_.
HAPMOUCHE, the giant “fly-catcher.” He invented the drying and smoking
of neats’ tongues.—Duchat, _Œuvres de Rabelais_ (1711).
HIPPOL´YTOS, one of the giants who made war with the gods. He was killed
by Hermês.—_Greek Fable_.
HRASVELG, the giant who keeps watch over the Tree of Life, and devours
the dead.—_Scandinavian Mythology_.
HURTALI, a giant in the time of the Flood. He was too large of stature
to get into the ark, and therefore rode straddle-legs on the roof. He
perpetuated the giant race. Atlas was his grandson.
INDRACITTRAN, a famous giant of Indian mythology.
JOTUN, the giant of Jötunheim or Giant-land, in Scandinavian story.
JULIANCE, a giant of Arthurian romance.
KIFRI, the giant of atheism and infidelity.
KOTTOS, a giant with a hundred hands. One of the Titans.—_Greek Fable_.
MALAMBRU´NO, the giant who shut up Antonoma´sia and her husband in the
tomb of the deceased queen of Candaya.—Cervantes, _Don Quixote_, II.
iii. 45.
MARGUTTE (3 _syl._), a giant 10 feet high, who died of laughter when he
saw a monkey pulling on his boots.—Pulci, _Morgante Maggiore_.
MAUGYS, the giant warder with whom Sir Lybius does battle.—_Libeaux_.
MAUL, the giant of sophistry, killed by Greatheart, who pierced him
under the fifth rib.—Bunyan, _Pilgrim’s Progress_, ii.
MONT-ROGNON, one of Charlemagne’s paladins.
MORGANTE (3 _syl._), a ferocious giant, who died by the bite of a
crab.—Pulci, _Morgante Maggiore_.
MUGILLO, a giant famous for his mace with six balls.
OFFERUS, the pagan name of St. Christopher, whose body was 12 ells in
height.—_Christian Legend_.
OGIAS, an antediluvain giant, mentioned in the apocrypha condemned by
Pope Gelasius I. (492-496).
ORGOGLIO, a giant thrice the height of an ordinary man. He takes captive
the Red Cross Knight, but is slain by King Arthur.—Spenser, _Faëry
Queen_, i.
ORI´ON, a giant hunter, noted for his beauty. He was slain by Diana, and
made a constellation.—_Greek Fable_.
OTOS, a giant, brother of Ephialtês. They both grew nine inches every
month. According to Pliny, he was 46 cubits (66 feet) in height.—_Greek
Fable_.
PALLAS, one of the giants called Titans. Minerva flayed him, and used
his skin for armor; hence she was called Pallas Minerva.—_Greek Fable_.
PANTAG´RUEL, son of Gargantua, and last of the race of giants.
POLYBO´TES (4 _syl._), one of the giants who fought against the gods.
The sea-god pursued him to the island of Cos, and, tearing away a part
of the island, threw it on him and buried him beneath the mass.—_Greek
Fable_.
POLYPHE´MOS, king of the Cyclops. His skeleton was found at Trapa´ni, in
Sicily, in the fourteenth century, by which it is calculated that his
height was 300 feet.—_Greek Fable_.
PORPHYR´ION, one of the giants who made war with the gods. He hurled the
island of Delos against Zeus; but Zeus, with the aid of Herculês,
overcame him.—_Greek Fable_.
PYRAC´MON, one of the Cyclops.—_Greek Fable_.
RITHO, the giant who commanded King Arthur to send his beard to complete
the lining of a robe.—_Arthurian Romance_.
SLAY-GOOD, a giant slain by Greatheart. Bunyan, _Pilgrim’s Progress_,
ii.
STER´OPES (3 _syl._), one of the Cyclops.—_Greek Fable_.
TARTARO, the Cyclops of Basque legendary lore.
TEUTOBOCH´US, a king, whose remains were discovered in 1613, near the
river Rhone. His tomb was 30 feet long.—Mazurier, _Histoire Véritable du
Géant Teutobochus_ (1618).
THAON, one of the giants who made war with the gods. He was killed by
the Parcæ.—Hesiod, _Theogony_.
TITANS, a race of giants.—_Greek Fable_.
TIT´YOS, a giant whose body covered nine acres of land. He tried to
defile Latōna, but Apollo cast him into Tartarus, where a vulture fed on
his liver, which grew again as fast as it was devoured.—_Greek Fable_.
TYPHŒUS, a giant with a hundred heads, fearful eyes, and most terrible
voice. He was the father of the Harpies. Zeus [Jupiter] killed him with
a thunderbolt, and he lies buried under Mount Etna.—Hesiod, _Theogony_.
TYPHON, son of Typhœus, a giant with a hundred heads. He was so tall
that he touched heaven with his head. His offspring were Gorgon, Geryon,
Cerberos, and the hydra of Lernê. He lies buried under Mount
Etna.—Homer, _Hymns_.
WIDENOSTRILS, a huge giant, who lived on windmills, and died from eating
a lump of fresh butter.—Rabelais, _Pantagruel_ iv. 17.
YOHAK, the giant guardian of the caves of Babylon.—Southey, _Talaba_, v.
⁂ Those who wish to pursue this subject further, should consult the
notes of Duchat, bk. ii. 1 of his _Œuvres de Rabelais_.
=Giants in Real Life.=
ANAK, father of the Anakim. The Hebrew spies said they themselves were
mere grasshoppers in comparison to these giants.—_Josh._ xv. 14;
_Judges_ i. 20; _Numb._ xiii. 33.
ANAK, 7 feet 8 inches at the age of 26. Exhibited in London, 1862-5.
Born at Ramonchamp, in the Vosges (1 _syl._), 1840. His real name was
Joseph Brice.
ANDRON´ICUS II., 10 feet. Grandson of Alexius Comnēnus. Nicetas asserts
that he had seen him.
BAMFORD (_Edward_), 7 feet 4 inches. Died in 1768, and was buried in St.
Dunstan’s Churchyard.
BATES (_Captain_), 7 feet 11 inches; of Kentucky. Exhibited in London,
1871.
BLACKER (_Henry_), 7 feet 4 inches, and most symmetrical. Born at
Cuckfield, Sussex, in 1724. Generally called “The British Giant.”
BRADLEY, 7 feet 8 inches at death. Born at Market Weighton, in
Yorkshire. His right hand is preserved in the museum of the College of
Surgeons (1798-1820).
BRICE (_Joseph_), 7 feet 8 inches. His hand could span 15½ inches.
BUSBY (_John_), 7 feet 9 inches; of Darfield. His brother was about the
same height.
CHANG-WOO-GOO, 7 feet 6 inches; of Fychou. The Chinese giant. Exhibited
in London, 1865-6.
CHARLEMAGNE, 8 feet nearly. He could squeeze together three horse-shoes
at once with his hands.
COTTER (_Patrick_), 8 feet 7½ inches. The Irish giant. A cast of his
hand is preserved in the museum of the College of Surgeons (died 1802).
ELEA´ZER, 7 cubits (10 feet 6 inches). The Jewish giant mentioned by
Josephus. He lived in the reign of Vitellius.
ELEIZEGUE (_Joachim_), 7 feet 10 inches. The Spanish giant. Exhibited in
London.
EVANS (_William_), 8 feet at death. Porter to Charles I. (died 1632).
FRANK (_Big_), 7 feet 8 inches; weight 22 stone; girth round the chest,
58 inches. He was an Irishman, whose name was Francis Sheridan (died
1870).
FRENZ (_Louis_), 7 feet 4 inches. The French giant.
GABARA, 9 feet 9 inches. An Arabian giant. Pliny says he was the tallest
man seen in the days of Claudius.
GILLY, 8 feet. A Swede; exhibited as a show in the early part of the
nineteenth century.
GOLI´ATH, 6 cubits and a span (? 9 feet 4 inches).—1 _Sam._ xvii. 4,
etc. His “brother” was also a giant.—2 _Sam._ xxi. 19; 1 _Chron._ xx. 5.
GORDON (_Alice_), 7 feet. An Essex giantess (died 1737).
HALE (_Robert_), 7 feet 6 inches; born at Somerton. Generally called
“The Norfolk Giant” (1820-1862).
HAR´DRADA (_Harold_), “5 ells of Norway in height” (nearly 8 feet). The
Norway giant.
LA PIERRE, 7 feet 1 inch; of Stratgard, in Denmark.
LOUIS, 7 feet 4 inches. The French giant. His left hand is preserved in
the museum of the College of Surgeons.
LOUSHKIN, 8 feet 5 inches. The Russian giant, and drum-major of the
Imperial Guards.
M’DONALD (_James_), 7 feet 6 inches; of Cork (died 1760).
M’DONALD (_Samuel_), 6 feet 10 inches. A Scotchman; usually called “Big
Sam” (died 1802).
MAGRATH (_Cornelius_), 7 feet 8 inches. He was an orphan, reared by
Bishop Berkley, and died at the age of 20 (1740-1760).
MAXIMI´NUS, 8 feet 6 inches. The Roman emperor (235-238).
MELLON (_Edmund_), 7 feet 6 inches. Born at Port Leicester, Ireland
(1665-1684).
MIDDLETON (_John_), 9 feet 3 inches. “His hand was 17 inches long, and
8½ inches broad.” He was born at Hale, in Lancashire, in the reign of
James I.—Dr. Plott, _History of Staffordshire_.
MILLER (_Maximilian Christopher_), 8 feet. His hand measured 12 inches,
and his fore-finger 9 inches long. The Saxon giant. Died in London
(1674-1734).
MURPHY, 8 feet 10 inches. An Irish giant, contemporary with O’Brien.
Died at Marseilles.
O’BRIEN or _Charles Byrne_, 8 feet 4 inches. The Irish giant. His
skeleton is preserved in the museum of the College of Surgeons
(1761-1783).
OG, king of Bashan. “His bed was 9 cubits by 4 cubits” (? 13½ feet by 6
feet).—_Deut._ iii. 11.
⁂ The Great Bed of Ware is 12 feet by 12 feet.
OSEN (_Heinrich_), 7 feet 6 inches; weight, 300 lbs. or 37-1/4 stone.
Born in Norway.
PORUS, an Indian king who fought against Alexander near the river
Hydaspês (B.C. 327). He was a giant “5 cubits in height” [7½ feet], with
strength in proportion.—Quintus Curtius, _De rebus gestis Alexandri
Magni_.
RIECHART (_J. H._), 8 feet 3 inches, of Friedberg. His father and mother
were both giants.
SALMERON (_Martin_), 7 feet 4 inches. A Mexican.