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A BOOK OF GIANTS TALES OF VERY TALL MEN OF MYTH, LEGEND, HISTORY, AND SCIENCE
A BOOK OF GIANTS TALES OF VERY TALL MEN OF MYTH, LEGEND, HISTORY, AND SCIENCE
BY HENRY WYSHAM LANIER AUTHOR OF "A BOOK OF BRAVERY," "THE ROMANCE OF PISCATOR," ETC. " And there we saw giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. "— Numbers : xiii, 33. NEW YORK E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY 681 Fifth Avenue Copyright, 1922 By E. P. Dutton & Company All Rights Reserved PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA...
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Thanks are due to the Frederick A. Stokes Company for permission to use, in Part III, three tales from volumes published by them: Chapter XX, The Biter Bit, from "Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians," by Vojislav M. Petrovic; Chapter XXI, The Peach's Son, from "Myths and Legends of Japan," by F. Hadland Davis; and Chapter XXIII, The Stone Giantess, from "The Myths of the North American Indians," by Lewis Spence. In a number of cases the text of the original romance or "history" has been follo
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Man in his youth was so fond of giants that, not finding them large or plentiful enough, he created a bounteous supply. He gave them precedence of himself. In the frozen North they came even before the gods: in the East, after the celestials but before the creation of the world; in Greece they sprang into being just after the Olympians and fiercely disputed the sovereignty of Zeus. Many ancient gods were vast in size: witness, for instance, the colossal statues of Egypt, China or the South Seas.
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CHAPTER I HOW ZEUS FOUGHT WITH TITANS AND GIANTS
CHAPTER I HOW ZEUS FOUGHT WITH TITANS AND GIANTS
We think of Zeus as the mightiest god of Greece, accompanied by his servants Force, Might and Victory,—the Cloud-gatherer, the Rain-giver, the Thunderer, the Lightning-hurler, the Sender of Prodigies, the Guider of Stars, the Ruler of other gods and men, whom even Poseidon the Earth-shaker must obey. The very name reverberates with majesty, power, dominion. But the beginnings of this vast deity were in darkness and danger. True, the reign of his father Kronos was that Golden Age when, in the fre
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CHAPTER II THE GIANT WHO SHINES IN THE SKY
CHAPTER II THE GIANT WHO SHINES IN THE SKY
In the days when the Olympians still walked at times among men, Zeus and Poseidon and Hermes once found themselves benighted in a lonely region of the rough Bœotian country. As darkness fell, they passed a little hut by the roadside. The farmer stood in the doorway, enjoying the cool of the evening after his day's toil; and seeing the wayfarers plodding along, he invited them in to pass the night. "My house is poor enough," said he, "but such as it is, it is yours." The three gods entered. The f
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CHAPTER III THE OUTWITTING OF POLYPHEMUS
CHAPTER III THE OUTWITTING OF POLYPHEMUS
Troy had fallen. After ten years' siege by a hundred thousand of Greece's mightiest warriors, the ramparts built by Poseidon had still proved impregnable to assault; the fell arrows of Heracles added to this host had failed to accomplish what Heracles himself had done single-handed. But finally, at the appointed time, stratagem had succeeded where force had proved of no avail: the monstrous wooden horse, within which crouched wily Odysseus and his chosen band, had wrought Ilium's downfall,—leavi
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CHAPTER IV WHEN THOR WENT TO JOTUNHEIM
CHAPTER IV WHEN THOR WENT TO JOTUNHEIM
Odin, he of the nine-and-forty names, dwelt in bright Asgard with his fellow Æsir and Asynjar. Father of gods and men though he was, born though he was of a giant mother, there was bitter strife between him and the vast Frost and Mountain Giants, the seed of Ymir's feet. They alone ventured openly to dispute his sovereignty. Mightiest of the other twelve Æsir was the All-father's eldest Earth-born son, Thor. Two goats of magical powers drew his chariot; iron gauntlets he had with which to grasp
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CHAPTER V THE GIANT PYRAMID-BUILDER
CHAPTER V THE GIANT PYRAMID-BUILDER
If you travel through that beautiful land of lakes and mountains north of the City of Mexico, you will hardly fail to visit the ancient sacred city of Cholula. Nor can you fail to marvel at the remains of that incredible Pyramid, four times as large as the famous Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. Cortes and his followers wondered at the fifty-acre structure nearly four centuries back. Humboldt measured it, studied it and speculated about it a hundred years ago. The general belief was that it had alway
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CHAPTER VI THE FATAL PRIDE OF VUKUB
CHAPTER VI THE FATAL PRIDE OF VUKUB
The Maya race, now living mostly in Guatemala and Yucatan, seem to be the descendants of a people whose civilization was old long before the appearance of those Aztecs whom Cortes found ruling in Mexico. Their wise men, like those of Cholula, knew from their fathers that there was a time when the earth had not yet recovered from the effects of the flood, and when mighty giants walked abroad. Nay, more, they took the pains to set down the facts in the only native American book we have which dates
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CHAPTER VII OG, KING OF BASHAN
CHAPTER VII OG, KING OF BASHAN
The Hebrew chroniclers tell us that the giants of their land were the children of the fallen angels who took to themselves wives from the beautiful daughters of men. When these huge beings had consumed the possessions of their neighbors, they began to devour even the human beings themselves; and from this horrible example men came to kill and eat birds, animals and fishes. Of these terrific and wicked ones, merely to glance at whom made one's heart grow weak, the most celebrated was Og. His moth
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CHAPTER VIII A SON OF ANAK
CHAPTER VIII A SON OF ANAK
There was war many years between the children of Israel and the Philistines. And it came to pass while Saul was King that the Philistines gathered together a great army, and marched into the land of Judah against the Israelites, and encamped in a plain near Shochoh. So Saul also drew out his army and hurried forward, and occupied a hill overlooking this plain; whereupon the Philistines were forced to leave their position and to establish themselves on another hill across the valley of Elah from
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CHAPTER IX FERRAGUS, WHO OWNED THE BRAZEN HEAD
CHAPTER IX FERRAGUS, WHO OWNED THE BRAZEN HEAD
Charlemagne held his state in the city of Pampeluna. This city of the Moors he had invested for six months; and being unable to take it, he prayed to St. James,—whereat the walls fell down as did those of Jericho before the blast of the priests' trumpets. Great was the Emperor's fame after his prodigious conquests in Saxony, France, Germany, Lorraine, Burgundy, Italy, and now in Spain; and his person befitted his renown. "He was of a ruddy complexion," says Turpin's Chronicle, "with brown hair;
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CHAPTER X THE GIANT OF ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT
CHAPTER X THE GIANT OF ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT
Many are the tales of King Arthur's valiant Round Table of knights—whose deeds have been sung almost more than those of the King himself. But from the day when as a "damoiseau of some fifteen years," (men say in the sixth century after Christ), Arthur was crowned as successor to Uther Pendragon, he was an example of chivalry to his whole court. "He was a very virtuous knight, right worthy of praise, whose fame was much in the mouths of men. To the haughty he was proud; but tender and pitiful to
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CHAPTER XI SIR LAUNCELOT AND TARQUIN
CHAPTER XI SIR LAUNCELOT AND TARQUIN
There is a mound in Penrith churchyard, in the Cumberland county of England, which is still called "The Giant's Grave." A pair of twelve-foot, round stone pillars stand for head and foot stone, fifteen feet apart—a prodigious suggestion as to the size of him who lies there. Legend has it that there was buried here a fell giant named Tarquin, who ravaged the country far and wide, in defiance of King Arthur, until on a day he met with Sir Launcelot du Lake. Which takes us back at one leap some fif
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CHAPTER XII THE ADVENTURES OF YVAIN
CHAPTER XII THE ADVENTURES OF YVAIN
Yvain was one of King Arthur's knights, and strange were his adventures. After defeating a mysterious knight in the forest and chasing his dying adversary into his town, he found himself in sad enough case—through the fact that no sooner had he looked on the face of the lady of the slain man than he found himself smitten with a mortal wound of love. Through the aid of the lady's damsel, he won the hand of this beautiful creature. Then, persuaded by Gawain and his old comrades, he left his wife a
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CHAPTER XIII THE TURKE AND GAWAIN
CHAPTER XIII THE TURKE AND GAWAIN
A terrible brood of giants once lived on the Isle of Man—as anyone in western England could have told you a hundred years ago, or five hundred for that matter. To-day this island of Mona in the Irish Sea produces nothing stranger than Manx tail-less cats and a hard-headed race of people who cling most obstinately to their old Norse and Celtic customs, with "deemsters" to judge them and a Legislature and Lieutenant-governor of their own for their 20,000 inhabitants. But away back in the days of g
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CHAPTER XIV AMADIS AMONG THE GIANTS
CHAPTER XIV AMADIS AMONG THE GIANTS
King Lisuarte of Great Britain was at table; the cloths were removed, and Galaor, Florestan and Agrayes were about him. These were among his foremost knights, but they grieved for the absence of their brother and kinsman, the incomparable Amadis of Gaul; he, for love and worship of the peerless Oriana, the King's daughter, had long wandered about in disguise, performing such exploits as made the whole world ring with his renown. Sometime he was known as the Child of the Sea, later as the Knight
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CHAPTER XV GOGMAGOG
CHAPTER XV GOGMAGOG
After the Trojan War, Æneas, fleeing from the desolation of the city, came with Ascanius by ship unto Italy. There, for that Æneas was worshipfully received by King Latinus, Turnus, King of the Rutulians, did wax envious and made war against him. When they met in battle, Æneas had the upper hand, and after that Turnus was slain, obtained the kingdom of Italy and Lavinia the daughter of Latinus. Later, when his own last day had come, Ascanius, now king in his stead, founded Alba on Tiber, and beg
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CHAPTER XVI THE GIANT BEHIND THE WATERFALL
CHAPTER XVI THE GIANT BEHIND THE WATERFALL
The giants lingered longer in the Far North than elsewhere. About two hundred years after the death of Charlemagne there was living in Iceland a saga hero named Grettir the Strong. He was the most powerful man ever known in the north country. More than once he had overcome dreaded Berserks in their battle fury; on a narrow path on a cliff face he conquered a huge bear with his naked hands, holding off the infuriated beast by the ears till he could topple it over the precipice; but his strength a
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CHAPTER XVII THE ONE GOOD GIANT: ST. CHRISTOPHER
CHAPTER XVII THE ONE GOOD GIANT: ST. CHRISTOPHER
Hearken to the tale in the Golden Legend of the giant Syrian, fair of face and spirit, who brought to the faith countless thousands of unbelievers before he fell a martyr in the persecution of the Byzantine emperor in the third century after Christ's birth. Never before or since did such a flower as this patron saint of all ferrymen spring from "the seed of the giant" that produced Og, King of Bashan, and Goliath of Gath. Christopher tofore his baptism was named Reprobus, but afterwards he was n
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CHAPTER XVIII THE GIANT HAND Irish
CHAPTER XVIII THE GIANT HAND Irish
A day Finn and his men were in the Hunting-hill they killed a great number of deer; and when they were wearied after the chase they sat down on a pleasant green knoll, at the back of the wind and at the face of the sun, where they could see every one, and no one at all could see them. While they were sitting in that place Finn lifted his eyes toward the sea, and saw a ship making straight for the haven beneath the spot on which they were sitting. When the ship came on land, a Big Young Hero leap
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CHAPTER XIX THE GIANT WHO HAD NO HEART IN HIS BODY Norse
CHAPTER XIX THE GIANT WHO HAD NO HEART IN HIS BODY Norse
Once on a time there was a King who had seven sons, and he loved them so much that he could never bear to be without them all at once, but one must be always with him. Now when they were grown up, six were to set off to woo, but as for the youngest his father kept him at home, and the others were to bring back a princess for him to the palace. So the King gave the six the finest clothes you ever set eyes on, so fine that the light gleamed from them a long way off, and each had his horse, which c
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CHAPTER XX THE BITER BIT Serbian[275:1]
CHAPTER XX THE BITER BIT Serbian[275:1]
[275:1] From "Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians," by Vojislav M. Petrovic. Once upon a time there was an old man who, whenever he heard anyone complain how many sons he had to care for, always laughed and said, "I wish that it would please God to give me a hundred sons!" This he said in jest; as time went on, however, he had, in reality, neither more nor less than a hundred sons. He had trouble enough to find different trades for his sons, but when they were once all started in life they wo
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CHAPTER XXI THE PEACH'S SON Japanese[290:1]
CHAPTER XXI THE PEACH'S SON Japanese[290:1]
[290:1] From "Myths and Legends of Japan," by F. Hadland Davis. One day, while an old woman stood by a stream washing her clothes, she chanced to see an enormous peach floating on the water. It was quite the largest she had ever seen, and as this old woman and her husband were extremely poor she immediately thought what an excellent meal this extraordinary peach would make. As she could find no stick with which to draw the fruit to the bank, she suddenly remembered the following verse: This litt
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CHAPTER XXII THE MAN WHO LOST HIS LEGS Korean[295:1]
CHAPTER XXII THE MAN WHO LOST HIS LEGS Korean[295:1]
[295:1] From "Korean Folk Tales," by Im Bang and Yi Ryuk. Translated by James S. Gale. There was a merchant in Chong-ju who used to go to Quelpart to buy seaweed. One time when he drew upon the shore he saw a man shuffling along on the ground towards the boat. He crept nearer, and at last took hold of the side with both his hands and pulled himself in. "When I looked at him," said the merchant, "I found he was an old man without any legs. Astonished, I asked, saying, 'How is it, old man, that yo
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CHAPTER XXIII THE STONE GIANTESS North American Indian[299:1]
CHAPTER XXIII THE STONE GIANTESS North American Indian[299:1]
[299:1] From "The Myths of the North American Indians," by Lewis Spence. In bygone times it was customary for a hunter's squaw to accompany her husband when he sought the chase. A dutiful wife on these occasions would carry home the game killed by the hunter and dress and cook it for him. There was once a chief among the Iroquois who was a very skilful hunter. In all his expeditions his wife was his companion and helper. On one excursion he found such large quantities of game that he built a wig
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CHAPTER XXIV SOME REAL GIANTS
CHAPTER XXIV SOME REAL GIANTS
Let us agree, arbitrarily, that people of from six to seven feet in height are only very tall men, but that those who exceed the seven-foot mark may fairly be called giants. During the last two hundred years there have been over a hundred men and women, figuring in the public eye, who have exceeded seven feet. Probably twenty-five of these have had a height of eight feet or over. In spite of statements in advertisements and handbills and newspapers, even in encyclopædias, there does not seem to
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CHAPTER XXV WHAT SCIENCE HAS LEARNED ABOUT GIANTS
CHAPTER XXV WHAT SCIENCE HAS LEARNED ABOUT GIANTS
Nor is this modest eight feet of stature, after Sir Ferumbras and Angolafre, the most disheartening thing about giants. For the cold-hearted biologists who have specialized on the subject want to steal even the word and make "gigantism" signify a diseased condition! There is, alas! a good deal of justification for this iconoclastic position. The exact observations are not yet numerous enough to enable us to generalize; but it is all too evident that the vast majority of these tallest men and wom
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