Otus and Ephialtes, collectively known as the Aloadae, were antagonists in Greek mythology. They were giant demigods who tested the might of the gods and attempted to rape Artemis and Hera, resulting in their deaths.
Biography
The Aloadae were children of the god Poseidon and the mortal Iphimedia. Their brothers by Iphimedia were Cercyon and Sciron. After their birth they were raised by their stepmother Eriboea. They grew nine inches every month, with the result that they were nine fathoms tall by the time they were nine years old.
The Aloadae lusted after the goddesses Hera and Artemis and plotted to abduct them. To this end, they used their immense strength to pile up several mountains next to Mount Olympus and climbed them to reach the top to attack. In the battle between the gods and the Aloadae, the Aloadae were able to abduct Ares before being driven off by Apollo. They imprisoned Ares in a storage jar for one lunar year.
After 13 months, Eriboea informed Hermes of Ares's location. Artemis and either Hermes or Apollo went to rescue Ares. Artemis appeared before Otus and Ephialtes and Otus attempted to rape her, leading to a fight between Otus and Ephialtes over who got to have her. At this point, either Artemis shapeshifted into a white doe and leapt between them or Apollo sent a white doe to come between them. Either way, the Aloadae became distracted and both threw their spears at the doe, which vanished, causing them to be struck and killed by each other's spears. Ares was then released and returned to Olympus.
For their crimes, the brothers were consigned to Tartarus for all eternity. They were bound to a column with snakes and a screech owl was placed between them to mock them.
Trivia
- Ephialtes is depicted in Dante's Divine Comedy, in which he is bound with the Titans between the eighth and ninth circles of Hell for defying the gods.
