This post is part of an ongoing series concerning the Nephilim, or giants in the Bible. For more information, you can read the previous posts, “An Introduction to the Nephilim,” “Giants in the Bible,” and “As In the Days of Noah,” which are found in the site archives.
In previous posts, I have discussed the issue of the Nephilim, or giants in the Bible. I have also discussed the non-canonical Book of Enoch, which discusses in more detail the events of Genesis 6:1-4. This post will examine the impact of giants in mythology, more specifically Greek and Norse mythology. There are other mythologies that discuss giants, which I hope to get to soon. Before we go any further let me state that I do not ascribe any theological authority to mythology or the Book of Enoch. These books are being used to illustrate concepts in Scripture. The Bible and its accepted canon is the only book I consider to be God’s holy Word.
Greek Mythology
Even today in Western culture, there is a familiarity with the Greek myths and their pantheon of gods. The Titans were a race of giant divine beings who were overthrown by the Olympian gods. Giants are described as a constant thorn in the side of the Olympian gods. In fact, the giants are described as, “They were a force for disorder and chaos, rapists, thieves, and murders, and they could not be allowed to co-exist with the new order.”[1]
This description of the giants confirms how they are described in the Book of 1 Enoch: “The giants consumed all of the work and toil of men. And when men could no longer sustain them, the giants turned against them and devoured mankind. And they began to sin against birds, and beasts, and reptiles, and fish, and to devour one another’s flesh, and drank the blood.” (1 Enoch 7:4-5).[2]
Specific Giants in Greek Mythology
Cyclopes– one-eyed giants.
Tityus- giant killed by Apollo and Artemis after he tried to rape their mother, Leto.
Argus- a giant with 100 eyes, “the all-seeing giant,” who was killed by Zeus.
Antaeus- a giant who was the king of Libya, killed by Hercules.
Memnon of Ethiopia- a giant killed by Achilles.
Polyphemus- a man eating Cyclopes encountered by Odysseus.
The Laestrygonians- giant cannibals encountered by Odysseus.
There are also other myths of Hercules helping Zeus and the other gods in their war against the giants. Jason and the Argonauts also helped a king defeat a group of giants.
Norse Mythology
If you are familiar with comic books or comic book movies, you should be familiar with the names of Thor, Loki, and Odin. Not only are they popular characters in modern cinema, they are also part of Norse mythology. We will take a brief look at how giants are intertwined in the stories of Thor, Loki, and Odin, then we will look at other specific giants mentioned in Norse mythology.
Thor
Geirrod- a giant who attempted to kill Thor.
Hymir- a giant killed by Thor.
Jarnsaxa- a giantess and mistress of Thor.
Magni- son of Thor and Jarnsaxa.
Loki
Loki, who is known as a trickster and the father of lies in Norse mythology, is the offspring of his giant father, Farbauti, and his giantess mother, Laufey.
Angrboda- giantess and mistress of Loki. Loki and Angrboda had three children, sons Fenrir, the wolf, and Jarmungand, the greatest of serpents. Hel, a daughter with decaying skin.
Thakk- a giantess, who was Loki in disguise.
Odin
Odin is the father of Thor, Odin is also a partial offspring of the giants, as his mother, Bestla, was a giantess. Odin also had a giantess mistress, who name was Grid.
Jotunheim
In Norse mythology, Jotunheim is the realm of the giants.
More Giants in Norse Mythology
The Frost Giants
The Frost giants include Thrym, the king of the Frost Giants; Augelmir, a giant; Gerd, a giantess, and Gymir, a giant.
Other Giants
Other giants and giantesses mentioned in Norse Mythology are Baugi, Bergelmir, Fjolsvid, Hraesvelg, Hrungnir, Hyndla, Hyrrokin, Logi, Mist Calf, Muspell, Skrymir, Surt, Suttung, Thiazi, Utgard-Loki, Vafthrudnir, Ymir, and Eggther, the watchman of the giants.
Ragnarok
In Norse mythology, Ragnarok would be the equivalent to the Battle of Armageddon or any apocalyptic final battle. Ragnarok is the final battle between the Norse gods, including Thor and Odin, and the Giants. In the Battle, Thor, Odin, and Loki are killed, the world is set on fire by the giant Surt. The world is later reborn and made new after the final battle.
Although tales of giants are relegated to the area of myth and legend, how is it that ancient cultures, separated by vast distances and time, with no form of mass communication, all share similar stories of giants and even “sky people” coming to earth? Could these myths and legends simply be retellings of the fallen angels who came to earth and lusted after the daughters of men and produced a race of giants as described in Genesis 6:1-4? Could all of these stories be the results of when God confused the languages and scattered the people after the Tower of Babel? I believe the Bible is the inerrant, infallible, and inspired Word of God. There are supernatural events described in the Bible that Christians accept without hesitation- the virgin birth of Christ, dead people being raised to life, a talking donkey, a floating ax head, and a ninety year-old women giving birth to name a few. I encourage you to do your own research into these matters and to study the Word of God. There are many good teachers out there concerning the subject of the Nephilim, please check them out for yourself.
[1] Robin Waterfield and Kathryn Waterfield, The Greek Myths: Stories of the Greek Gods and Heroes Wildly Retold, 28. New York: Metro Books.
[2] Joseph B. Lumpkin, The Books of Enoch: The Complete Volume Containing: 1 Enoch (The Ethiopic Book of Enoch) 2 Enoch (The Slavic Secrets of Enoch) 3 Enoch (The Hebrew Book of Enoch), 29. Blountsville, AL: Fifth Estates Publishers, 2010.
Triumphant In Christ 
This is an interesting topic. The exact meaning of the origin of the Nephilim as described in the Old Testament is one of those obscure questions for which I have yet to find a satisfying answer.
LikeLike
Robert,
Thank you for your response to my post. The Nephilim is indeed an interesting topic of Scripture. I know that the word Nephilim is derived from the Hebrew word, Naphal (Strong’s #5307), which means “to fall” or “the fallen ones.” I stumbled on this topic one day watching the program “Prophecy in the News.” There are good teachers out there on the subject of the Nephilim, which include L.A. Marzulli, Rob Skiba, and Chuck Missler. I would encourage you to look them up. Once again, thank you for your interest in my post and may God bless you.
LikeLike
Thank you for getting back to me and for your suggestions.
LikeLike
“Giantology” is such a fun arena to explore… (particularly once you begin to understand it all through the “Nephilim lens”)
One region I’ve always been curious about learning more of in this light is the whole Asian continent, particularly ancient China etc., as I’ve heard brief mentionings of there being giant mythology in these places as well, only it seems that in the West we are much less familiar with them, I suppose due to language barriers and so on. Same thing goes for things like the Chinese pyramids and such, (possible “Nephilim architecture”..?), they are known to exist, but almost completely unstudied.
At times I have even wondered is something as famous as the “Great Wall” might have actually been built to keep the giants out of China. I mean, probably not, but it’s an interesting thing to ponder! 😉
Great post…
LikeLike
Thank you for your kind words. I’ve never looked into the Asian mythology about giants. I think you bring up a good point about the Great Wall of China. There are so many structures around the word that defy explanation. Some of these structures have stones so heavy that they cannot be moved by our current technology. I do find this Nephilim issue fascinating, especially when you study what the Bible says about the giants. God bless.
LikeLike