Porphyrion

For the Roman-era writer, see Pomponius Porphyrion.

"Porphyrion" is also a section of the genus Saxifraga.

Zeus contra Porphyrion (right), Pergamonmuseum Berlin.

In Greek mythology, Porphyrion was a giant, one of the sons of Tartarus and Gaea. Referred to by Pindar as king of the Giants.^[1] After the Olympian gods imprisoned the Titans in Tartarus, Porphyrion was one of twenty-four^[2] anguipede giants who made war on Olympus.

During the Giant's revolt on Olympus, Porphyrion attempted to strangle Hera. An arrow from the bow of Eros inspired Porphyrion with lust for Hera, and he tore her robes and would have forced her, but an enraged Zeus shot him with a thunderbolt. The giant sprang back up from this attack, but Heracles mortally wounded him with an arrow."^[3]

According to one source,^{[4][citation needed]} when Hera set the Giant army against Dionysus, Porphyrion was one of those. Hera promised him Hebe's hand in marriage if he would defeat the Giant.

See also

• Greek mythology in popular culture

References

1. ^ Pindar, Pythian 8.
2. ^ Bibliotheca of Pseudo-Apollodorus, 1.6.1, also cited in Graves' The Greek Myths, 35.a.
3. ^ Bibliotheca of Pseudo-Apollodorus, 1.6.2. Translation by James George Frazer.
4. ^ http://www.maicar.com/GML/Dionysus2.html