Half-giants are fictional beings that have one parent that is a giant and another parent that is a different species.
Description
In most cases, a half-giant is the result of a union between a human and a giant. Often they are of normal size or slightly larger and either have abnormal or supernatural abilities, or are unusually strong and hearty.
One notable half-giant is Antaeus of Greek mythology who is the son of Poseidon and Gaia.
In Arthurian legends, Galehaut and Guinevere were also considered half-giants.
In popular culture
- In The Chronicles of Narnia series, by C.S Lewis, the White Witch is a half-giant where her parents are rumored to be a giant and a jinn from Charn.
- In Marvel Comics, Executioner is half-giant due to his parents being an unnamed Storm Giant and an unnamed Skornheim Goddess.
- They feature primarily in fantasy role-playing games, where they often are a playable race (for example, Half-Giants in the Dark Sun setting for Dungeons & Dragons and another race of half-giants in the MMORPG Horizons: Empire of Istaria).
- In the game Dungeons & Dragons, Half-giants are a race of enormous demi-humans who have adapted to a variety of lifestyles in the many harsh terrains of Athas. The origins of the race are unclear.
- Half-giants are also known from the Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling. Rubeus Hagrid and Olympe Maxime the headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic are examples.
- In the One Piece manga and anime, there are half-giants known as "Wotans" which are the results of a crossbreeding between fishmen and giants.
References
- Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock (1 April 2016). The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters. Routledge. p. 494. ISBN 978-1-317-04425-3.
- Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2.5.11
- Hyginus, Fabulae 31 & 157
- Statius, Thebaid 6.893 ff.
- La Tavola ritonda, o L'istoria di Tristano: 1: Prefazione, testo dell'opera (in Italian). presso Gaetano Romagnoli. 1864.
- Lewis, C.S. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.
- Journey into Mystery #103. Marvel Comics.
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