Ogres and Giants by John Hamilton

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)NDEX 


&CC&G 
&M&SK
IANTS INONEFORMORANOTHER HAVEINHABITED

 THEWORLDSFOLKLOREANDMYTHOLOGYSINCEPEOPLE
lRSTBEGANTELLINGSTORIES'IANTSAREDESCRIBEDAS
HUMANLIKEINAPPEARANCE BUTHUGEINSTATURE
3OMETIMESTHEYHAVESUPERNATURALPOWERS4HEYAREALSOSTUPID
SAVAGE ANDCANNIBALISTIC WITHAPREFERENCEFORHUMANmESHAND
BLOOD4HEYCANWOLFDOWNAWHOLEHERDOFCOWSORSHEEPINONE
SITTING ORDRINKARIVERDRY4HEYCANEVENSPLITAMOUNTAININ
TWO ORCHOPDOWNANENTIREFORESTWITHTHESWINGOFAGIGANTIC
AXE
4HE7ELSHFAIRYTALE*ACKANDTHE"EANSTALKILLUSTRATESATYPICAL
GIANTCRUEL STUPID HOSTILETOWARDHUMANS ANDAHOARDEROF
TREASURESANDMAGICALOBJECTS(EROESWHOCONQUERGIANTSUSUALLY
DOSOBYTHEUSEOFTHEIRWITS RATHERTHANBRUTESTRENGTH

2IGHT3ABU
FROM4HE4HIEF
OF"AGHDADGETS
CAUGHTBENEATHA
GIANTSFOOT
&ARRIGHT&ANTASY
ILLUSTRATOR$ON
-AITZS'IANT
7IZARD




)NMANKINDSEARLYHISTORY GIANTSANDOTHERMONSTERS SUCH !BOVE4HE'IANTS
ASDRAGONS EXPLAINEDTHEFRIGHTENINGUNKNOWN%VIDENCEOF #AUSEWAY IN
ENORMOUS FEARFULBEASTSCOULDBESEENINEVERYEARTHQUAKE .ORTHERN)RELAND
mOOD ORSOLARECLIPSE)NTHEDAYSBEFORESCIENCE ITWASSIMPLETO WASFORMED
EXPLAINTHESENATURALEVENTSASTHERESULTOFSUPERNATURALCREATURES MILLIONSOFYEARS
SUCHASGIANTS&OSSILIZEDBONES WHICHWEKNOWTODAYARETHE AGOWHENLAVA
REMAINSOFDINOSAURSANDOTHERPREHISTORICBEASTS GAVEFURTHER ERUPTEDFROM
PROOFTOEARLYPEOPLESTHATGIANTSONCEROAMEDTHEEARTH ANUNDERGROUND
4OMANYANCIENTCULTURES GIANTSWEREBEINGSTHATEXISTED lSSURE,OCAL
BEFORETHEGODS BUTWEREEVENTUALLYDEFEATEDBYTHEM%VERYBODY LEGENDSAYSTHAT
KNEWTHEREWEREIMMENSEHUMAN LIKECREATURESTHATONCEEXISTED AGIANTMADE
-ANY%UROPEANLEGENDSHOLDTHATPEOPLEOFANANCIENThGOLDEN THECAUSEWAYAS
AGEvWEREGIGANTICOFSTATURE BUTHADSINCEDIEDOUT ORSHRUNKTO STEPPINGSTONESTO
TODAYSSIZE THE3COTTISHISLAND
4HETHIRTEENTH CENTURY$ANISHAUTHORANDHISTORIAN3AXO OF3TAFFA
'RAMMATICUSWROTE INHISFAMOUSBOOK4HE(ISTORYOFTHE$ANES &ARLEFT$ON
h4HATTHE$ANISHAREAWASONCECULTIVATEDBYACIVILIZATIONOF -AITZS)DIOT&IEND
GIANTSISTESTIlEDBYTHEIMMENSESTONESATTACHEDTOANCIENT
BARROWSANDCAVES)FANYONEISDOUBTFULWHETHERORNOTTHIS
WASEXECUTEDBYSUPERHUMANFORCE LETHIMGAZEATTHEHEIGHTS
OFCERTAINMOUNDSANDTHENSAY IFHECAN WHOCARRIEDSUCH
ENORMOUSBOULDERSTOTHEIRSUMMITSv



3AXOWASWRITINGABOUTTHEHUGESTONESFOUNDNEARSOME
BURIALMOUNDSIN$ENMARK/THERMYSTERIOUSMEGA STRUCTURES
INCLUDINGTALLSTONEWALLSANDGIGANTICEARTHENMOUNDS WERE
SAIDTOBETHEWORKOFGIANTSFROMSOMEDISTANT LONG AGOAGE)N
REALITY THESEROCKFORMATIONS EARTHWORKS ANDSTONECIRCLESCANBE
TRACEDTO2OMANSETTLERSWHOHADOCCUPIEDTHEREGIONCENTURIES
EARLIER4OEXPLAINTHERUINSOFTHESE2OMANCONSTRUCTIONPROJECTS
3AXOANDOTHERMEDIEVAL%UROPEANWRITERSCONCLUDEDTHATTHEY
HADTOBETHERESULTOFGIANTS)TWASANOBVIOUSANDSIMPLE
EXPLANATION'IANTS OFCOURSE WEREREAL7HOCOULDARGUE
OTHERWISE
'IANTSAREEVENMENTIONEDINTHE"IBLE4HEBOOKOF'ENESIS
SAYS h4HEREWEREGIANTSINTHEEARTHINTHOSEDAYSv/NEOF
THEMOSTFAMOUSSTORIESFROMTHE"IBLETELLSOF$AVIDSLAYING
THEGIANT'OLIATHWITHASTONEFROMASIMPLESLING'OLIATHWAS
DESCRIBEDASSTANDINGMORETHANNINEFEETM TALL WHICH
WASSMALLFORAGIANT BUTSTILLHUGECOMPAREDTOANORMALMAN

,EFT4HE#OLOSSUS
BY&RANCISCO*OSEDE
'OYAY,UCIENTES
&ARLEFT$AVID
CONFRONTSTHEGIANT
'OLIATH


'G?LR
-WRFQ
ANYSCHOLARSTRACESTORIESOFGIANTSTOANCIENT'REEK

MYTHOLOGY4HETERMGIANTREFERSTO'IGANTES
TERRIBLECREATURESWITHBODIESOFMENANDTHELEGS
ORTAILSOFSERPENTS4HEYWERETHECHILDRENOFTHE
GODDESS'AEA WHOREPRESENTEDTHEEARTH AND5RANUS WHO
REPRESENTEDTHEHEAVENS4HE'IGANTESAREOFTENCONFUSEDWITH
THE'REEK4ITANS BUTTHEYARETWODIFFERENTGROUPSOFCREATURES
)NTHE'REEKMYTH'IGANTOMACHIA WHICHMEANShTHEWAR
OFTHEGIANTS vTHE'IGANTESREVOLTEDAGAINSTTHE/LYMPIANS
4HE/LYMPIANSWERETHE'REEKGODSWHOLIVEDATOP-OUNT
/LYMPUS4HEWARWASDESPERATEANDBLOODY BUTTHE/LYMPIANS
lNALLYDEFEATEDTHE'IGANTES WITHHELPFROM(ERACLESTHEARCHER
-OSTOFTHE'IGANTESWERESLAIN BUTMANYWEREBURIEDUNDER
MOUNTAINS!CCORDINGTOTHEMYTH THISISWHYTODAYWEHAVE
EARTHQUAKESANDVOLCANOES
4HESTORYOFTHE'IGANTESWASVERYPOPULARINANCIENT


'REEKAND2OMANARTANDCULTURE4HEDEFEATOFTHEGIANTS
REPRESENTEDTHETRIUMPHOFGOODOVEREVIL ANDBEGANTHEAGEOF
THE/LYMPIANGODS LEDBYTHEMIGHTY:EUS3OMEOFTHEGIANTS
HOWEVER LATEREMERGED INCLUDING!NTAEUS WHOBUILTATEMPLE
&ARRIGHT$ON OUTOFHUMANSKULLS AND#YCLOPS THEONE EYEDGIANTWHOATE
-AITZS4ITAN MENANDTERRORIZEDTHELAND




.ORSEMYTHOLOGYALSOHASMANYSTORIESOFGIANTS!NCIENT
3CANDINAVIANSBELIEVEDTHATROCKGIANTSANDFROSTGIANTSLIVEDIN
*OTUNHEIM ASNOWYLANDTHATLIESONTHEOUTERMOSTSHORESOF
THEOCEAN)TISPARTOF-IDGARD THEMIDDLELEVELOFTHE.ORSE
COSMOS/NEOF*UTUNHEIMSMOSTFEAREDINHABITANTSIS4HRYM
THEDREADEDFROSTGIANTWHOSENAMEMEANShUPROARv/THERGIANTS
INCLUDE9MIR 5TGARD ,OKI 4HIAZI ANDTHEGIANTESS-ENGLAD
4HEGIANTSOF*OTUNHEIMOFTENBATTLETHE.ORSEGODS4HE
CHIEFENEMYOFTHEGIANTSIS4HOR THE.ORSEGODOFTHUNDER
.ORSEMYTHOLOGYSAYSTHATDURING2AGNAROK WHICHISTHELAST
GREATBATTLEBETWEENTHEGODSANDTHEFORCESOFEVIL THEGIANTSWILL
RISEUPANDTRYTODESTROYTHEWORLD
4HEREAREMANYOTHEREARLYCULTURESTHATHAVEMYTHSTHAT
TELLOFGIANTS4HESEGARGANTUANBEINGSWEREVERYIMPORTANTIN
DESCRIBINGHOWTHEEARTHWASlRSTFORMED SOMETIMESBYTHEVERY
BODIESOFTHEGIANTSTHEMSELVES!SAMPLINGOFEARLYGIANTMYTHS
INCLUDES+UA&UNAND0ANGUFROM#HINA 4IBETSS'ROLMA AND
0UNTANOF-ICRONESIA &ARLEFT4HE.ORSE
%VENNOW DURINGTHEAGEOFSCIENCE WHENTHERESEEMSTOBE GOD4HORPREPARES
ALOGICALEXPLANATIONFORJUSTABOUTEVERYTHING STORIESOFGIANTS TODOBATTLEWITH
CONTINUETOFASCINATEPEOPLE*ONATHON3WIFTWROTEABOUTGIANTS THEGIANT9MIR
IN'ULLIVERS4RAVELS&OLKLORE INCLUDING'ERMANYS'RIMMS "ELOW!PUBLICITY
&AIRY4ALES HASMANYSTORIESOFHUGEMONSTERS4ODAYSMODERN PHOTOFROMTHE
ENTERTAINMENTINDUSTRYHASANEAGERAUDIENCETHATDELIGHTSIN MOVIE+ING+ONG
TALESOFGIANTSAND
OGRES&ROM7ALT
$ISNEYS3HREK
TO+ING+ONG
GIANTSSEEMTOBE
EVERYWHERE


3?T?EC
/EPCQ 
GRESAREASPECIALKINDOFGIANTFROMLEGENDSAND

 FAIRYTALES4HEYARElERCEANDCRUEL4HEYLIKE
NOTHINGBETTERTHANTOFEASTONHUMANmESH
ESPECIALLYCHILDREN3OMESCHOLARSSAYTHATTHE
WORDOGREMAYCOMEFROMTHE,ATIN/RCUS WHOWASTHEGODOF
THEUNDERWORLD!FEMALEOGREISCALLEDANOGRESS/GRESAREMOST
COMMONINTHEFOLKTALESOFTHEPEOPLEOF.ORTHERN%UROPE
)NADDITIONTOTHEIRCANNIBALISTICNATURE OGRESARESHY STUPID
ANDCOWARDLY MUCHLIKETHEIRCOUSINSTHEGIANTS4HEYOFTENHAVE
BIGHEADS AREHAIRY SOMETIMESWITHLONGBEARDSANDENORMOUSLY
FATBELLIES4HEIRBODIESAREVERYSTRONG BUTTHEYHAVESMALL
BRAINS"ECAUSETHEYHAVESOLITTLEINTELLIGENCE OGRESAREEASILY
DEFEATEDBYQUICK WITTEDHEROES

2IGHT$ONKEYAND
3HREK THENOT SO
BLOODTHIRSTYOGRE
&ARRIGHT$ON
-AITZS-AD&IEND



/GRESOFTENLIVEINELABORATECASTLESORPALACES USUALLYWITHAN
ABUNDANCEOFRICHESHIDDENAWAYINSOMESECRETTREASUREROOM


3OMETIMESANOGRESCASTLEISBUILTUNDERGROUND ORRIGHTINTOTHE
SIDEOFAMOUNTAIN)N3CANDINAVIANFOLKTALES OGRESANDTROLLSARE
OFTENINTERCHANGEABLE
#HILDRENSFAIRYTALESAREFULLOFOGRESWHOOFTENKIDNAP
PRINCESSES4HESEVENTEENTH CENTURYAUTHOR#HARLES0ERRAULTMADE
THETERMOGREPOPULARWHENHEUSEDTHESECREATURESINHISMOST
FAMOUSWORK 4ALESOF-OTHER'OOSE/GRESHAVEAPPEAREDINMANY
OTHERBOOKS INCLUDING4OM4HUMBAND*ACKANDTHE"EANSTALK
0EOPLEWHOSTUDYFOLKLORESAYTHATEVENTHEWITCHIN(ANSELAND
'RETELISAKINDOFOGRESS SINCESHEINTENDEDTODEVOURTHECAPTIVE
CHILDREN4HE#YCLOPSOFANCIENT'REEKMYTHOLOGYISALSOAMAN
EATINGOGRE)NMOSTOFTHESETALES BRAVEWARRIORS OREVENCLEVER
PEASANTS USUALLYTRICKTHEDIMWITTEDOGRES DESPITETHEMONSTERS
SUPERIORPHYSICALSTRENGTH

,EFT4OM4HUMB
ISDEPOSITEDBYA
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OFOLD'RUMBOTHE
GIANTSCASTLE
&ARRIGHT3PECIMENS
FOR(OME BY$ON
-AITZ



/GRESTORIESAREUSUALLYLINKEDTOTHE"RITISH)SLES"UTONE
INTERESTINGEXPLANATIONOFTHEORIGINOFTHEWORDOGRECOMESFROM
THEFOLKLOREOFANCIENT3CANDINAVIA4HEPRE #HRISTIAN6IKINGS
BELIEVEDTHATTHEWORLDWASDIVIDEDINTONINEREGIONS WHICH
MADEUPTHEBRANCHES TRUNK ANDROOTSOFAHUGEhWORLDTREEv
CALLED9GGDRASIL
4HE.ORSEPEOPLEBELIEVEDTHAT/DINWASTHERULEROFTHE
GODS WHOLIVEDINTHEREALMCALLED!SGARD/DINSNAMEMEANS
h!LL&ATHER vBUTHEWASALSOTHEGODOFDEATH)NORDERTOGAIN
KNOWLEDGEANDLEARNTHEWISDOMOFTHEDEAD /DINPLUCKED
OUTONEOFHISEYESANDHUNGHIMSELFUPSIDEDOWNFROMTHE
WORLDTREEFORNINEDAYS WITHASPEARTHRUSTINTOHISSIDE/DIN
DIEDDURINGTHISORDEAL ANDHISSPIRITTRAVELEDTHENINELEVELSOF
THE.ORSEWORLDWHILERIDINGONAMAGICALEIGHT LEGGEDHORSE
NAMED3LEIPNER$URINGTHISJOURNEYHEGAINEDKNOWLEDGE PLUS
THEPOWEROFPROPHESY/DINSBODYWASLATERREVIVEDBYTHREE
ANCIENT SUPERNATURALBEINGSCALLEDTHE.ORNS
4HISSTORYHELPSEXPLAINWHYTHEWORLDTREEOF.ORSE
MYTHOLOGYISCALLED9GGDRASIL9GGRMEANSh,ORDOF$EATHv
/THERSOURCESSAYTHAT9GGSTANDSFORhTHETERRIBLEONE vYET
ANOTHERREFERENCETO/DIN $RASILISA.ORDICWORDTHATMEANS
BOTHGALLOWSWHERESOMEBODYISHANGED ANDHORSEAREFERENCE
TOTHEEIGHT LEGGED3LEIPNER 
5PUNTILTHETENTHCENTURY THE.ORDICPEOPLEREGULARLY
MADEHUMANSACRIlCESTO/DIN OFTENBYHANGINGTHEMUPSIDE
DOWNFROMASHTREESANDTHRUSTINGSPEARSINTOTHEIRSIDES IN
THESAMEWAY/DINWASKILLEDDURINGHISJOURNEYOFWISDOM
7HEN#HRISTIANITYlNALLYCAMETO3CANDINAVIA ITSWEPTASIDETHE
OLDRELIGIONS(UMANSACRIlCEWASOUTLAWED#HRISTIANLEADERS
COMPARED/DIN OR9GGR WITHTHEDEVIL
7HENTHEOLD.ORDICLEGENDSSPREADTOTHE"RITISH)SLES THE
FOLKTALESWERETOLDANDRETOLD SLOWLYCHANGINGOVERTHEYEARS
/DINWASTRANSFORMEDINTOAGIANTWHOLIVEDINTHECLOUDSAND
&ARRIGHT/DIN ATEHUMANmESH4HE.ORSETERMFORh,ORDOF$EATH v9GGR
RIDESTHROUGH EVENTUALLYBECAMEOGRE ANAMEFORANYMONSTERTHATATEPEOPLE
THESKYONHIS 4HISEXAMPLEOFTHEORIGINOFTHEWORDOGRESHOWSJUSTHOW
EIGHT LEGGEDHORSE MUCHFOLKTALESCANCHANGEANDBETWISTEDASTHEYARERETOLDOVER
3LEIPNERINTHIS GENERATIONS ANDPASSTHROUGHDIFFERENTCULTURES)NTHISCASE
PAINTINGBY!RTHUR /DIN THEWISEANDPOWERFULLEADEROFTHEANCIENT.ORSEGODS
2ACKHAM WASTRANSFORMEDINTOAHULKING STUPID mESH EATINGlEND



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#9#,/03
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/DYSSEUS(EANDHISFELLOWWARRIORSWERECAPTUREDBYTHE
#YCLOPSANDIMPRISONEDINACAVE WHERETHEMONSTERBEGANTO
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ANDHISMENTOOKADVANTAGEOFTHIS
OPPORTUNITYBYSTABBINGTHE#YCLOPS
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ATTHECAVEENTRANCETOKILL/DYSSEUSAND
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'REEKSCLUNGTOTHEBELLIESOFTHE#YCLOPS
SHEEPASTHEYEXITEDTHECAVE4HE#YCLOPS
WASFOOLED ANDTHE'REEKSNARROWLY
ESCAPED

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!CCORDINGTO'EOFFREYOF-ONMOUTH THESCHOLARWHOWROTE
4HE(ISTORYOFTHE+INGSOF"RITAININ 'OGMAGOGWASA
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THATINHABITEDTHELANDCALLED!LBION4HISWASTHENAMEGIVENTO
"RITAINBEFOREPEOPLEHADSETTLEDTHERE
"RUTUS AFUGITIVEFROMANCIENT4ROY ANDABANDOFHIS
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#ORINEUSWAS"RUTUSSSECONDINCOMMAND ANDONEOFTHETHINGS
HELIKEDMOSTWASTOlGHTGIANTS
7HEN'OGMAGOGHEARDTHATHISLANDHADBEENINVADEDBY
"RUTUS HERUMBLEDACROSSTHECOUNTRYSIDETODOBATTLEWITHTHE
4ROJANS!S'EOFFREYOF-ONMOUTHWROTEINHISBOOK h#ORINEUS
WASDELIGHTEDINTHISANDTHREWOFFHISARMOURANDCHALLENGED
'OGMAGOGTOAMATCH4HECONTESTBEGAN#ORINEUSMOVEDIN
ANDSODIDTHEGIANTEACHCAUGHTTHEOTHERBYENTWININGHISARMS
AROUNDTHEOTHER'OGMAGOGGRIPPED#ORINEUSWITHALLHISMIGHT
ANDBROKETHREERIBS
h#ORINEUSWASINFURIATEDBYWHATHADHAPPENEDAND
SUMMONEDALLOFHISSTRENGTHANDHEAVED'OGMAGOGUPONTO
HISSHOULDERSAND HURRYINGASFASTASHECOULDUNDERHISWEIGHT
RANFORTHENEARBYCOAST(ECLIMBEDTOTHETOPOFAMIGHTYCLIFF
ANDHURLEDTHEDEADLYMONSTERFAROUTINTOTHESEA4HEGIANTFELL
ONTHESHARPROCKSOFTHEREEFWHEREHEWASDASHEDTOATHOUSAND
FRAGMENTSANDSTAINEDTHEWATERSWITHHISBLOOD4HEPLACEWHERE
#ORINEUSHURLEDTHEGIANTTOHISDEATHISCALLED'OGMAGOGS,EAP
TOTHISDAYv


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AVEYOUEVERWONDEREDIFGIANTSCOULDREALLYEXIST

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'IANTSBREAKLAWS.OTTHEKINDTHATMAKEITILLEGALTOSTEP
ONHOUSESOREATCHILDRENFORLUNCH4HESEARELAWSTHAT ONCE


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3PECIlCALLY GIANTSBREAKTHEDREADEDSQUARE CUBELAW4HIS
ISALAWTHATUSESBASICGEOMETRY)NANUTSHELL THESQUARE CUBE
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BRAVELITTLETAILOR SURFACEDIMENSIONSASYOUSCALETHEMUP
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HAVETHICK STOCKY 7HATTHISALLMEANSISTHAT INORDERFOROURSUPERSIZED
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