Hecatoncheires
/ˌhɛkətɒŋˈkaɪɹiːz/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Three monstrous giants of enormous size and strength, each with fifty heads and one hundred arms, who were offspring of Uranus by Gaia, whom Zeus freed from captivity and who in return aided the Olympians in the Titanomachy. Greek, plural, plural-only
"The three Hecatoncheires were named Cottus, Briareus (or Aegaeon) and Gyges (or Gyes)."
Example
More examples"The three Hecatoncheires were named Cottus, Briareus (or Aegaeon) and Gyges (or Gyes)."
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἑκᾰτόν (hekătón, “hundred”) + χείρ (kheír, “hand”), compare the adjective ἑκατόγχειρος (hekatónkheiros, “hundred-handed”). The putative *Ἑκατόγχειρες (*Hekatónkheires) is unattested in Hesiod's Theogony, which instead describes the giants with the phrase ἑκατὸν μὲν χεῖρες (hekatòn mèn kheîres).