Talos

A bronze monster, invulnerable except in a vein or tube situated in his heel, he was given by Zeusio Europa when she gave birth in Crete to Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Sarpedon, to watch over her. He clutched to himself any strangers who landed there either making himself extremely hot or leaping with them into a fire so that they were destroyed. He also threw stones at them to discourage their landing. Talos used to guard the shores of Crete by going round the island three times a day. He tried to drive away the Argo carrying the Argonauts on their journey by throwing huge stones at the ship. But Medea destroyed him by giving him a potion which drove him insane or by removing a nail from the vulnerable spot of the heel which contained his blood. Yet another legend relates that he was slain by Poeas who struck him in the heel with his arrows. [pp. 88-89]

[Kyriazis, Constantine D. Eternal Greece. Translated by Harry T. Hionides. A Chat Publication.]

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