Porphyrion
Domains:
Thracian Giant
Category:
5E Alignment:
5E Domains:
5E Symbol:
Greek Name | Transliteration | Latin Spelling | Translation |
Πορφυριων | Porphyriôn | Porphyrion | Surging (porphyreôs) |
PORPHYRION was the king of the Gigantes (Giants) of Pallene who waged war on the gods. He was struck down by Herakles and Zeus with arrows and a bolt of lightning when he tried to violate the goddess Hera on the battlefield.
Porphyrion is probably the same as Eurymedon, the king of the giants mentioned by Homer in the Odyssey.
There are several possible etymologies for the name Porphyrion:--it could mean "Surging" from the Greek word porphyreôs, a term applied to both the surge of battle and the sea; or "Gleaming Darkly" from the word porphyrô; or else "Purple-Coot" from porphyriôn. Aristophanes in his comedy-play the Birds associates both Porphyrion and his brother Alkyoneus with birds--the purple-coot (porphyriôn) and the halcyon (alkyôn).