Hecatonchires

Then from Earth and Sky came forth three more sons, great and strong, unspeakable, Cottus and Briareus and Gyges, presumptuous children. A hundred arms sprang forth from their shoulders, unapproachable, and upon their massive limbs grew fifty heads out of each one’s shoulders; and the mighty strength in their great forms was immense.

— Hesiod, The Theogony 147-153

The Hecatonchires were monstrous colossi born from the union of the Primordial gods, Gaea and Ouranos. As their name suggests, they possessed 100 arms, 50 extending from each shoulder, and 50 heads sprouting from necks above those shoulders, all atop enormous humanoid bodies with two legs. These grotesque behemoths were exiled by their own father for their horrific appearance and lack of intellect. They later sided with the Olympians against their younger siblings, the Titans, during the Titanomachy.

History

When the solar system was young and Gaea came to rest, Ouranos covered her for slumber. Eros, the Primordial god of love, struck them with his bow, and they lay together. Their first children were the Cyclopes, the Hecatonchires followed, and then finally, the 12 Titans. Ouranos despised all his offspring with Gaea and cast them deep inside the Earth, into Tartarus. The separation from her children enraged Gaea and plunged her into despair, prompting her to urge any of their offspring to break free of Tartarus and punish their father. In emasculating his father, Cronus reigned over the Cosmos but only freed the other Titans. The Cyclopes and the Hecatonchires remained in the insufferable realm of Tartarus.

Antiquity

The Cyclopes and the Hecatonchires remained in Tartarus until the Olympians arrived in Greece nearly 10 millennia ago. Zeus ventured into the underworld, delving deep to find Tartarus where he freed the other children of Gaea and Ouranos. The grateful Cyclopes forged Zeus his lightning bolt, Poseidon his trident, and Hades his helm, but the dull-witted Hecatonchires had no trades to offer. All but one offered to fight with the Olympians, however, and the decade-long war of the Titanomachy began. When the Olympians emerged victorious, they banished the Titans loyal to Cronus into Tartarus, and the Hecatonchires became their siblings’ eternal guards.

Cold War Era

After Wonder Woman defeated Ares for what was believed to be the final time, the Amazons allowed her to return to Themyscira to join their celebration. On Olympus, the gods celebrated as well, while Pan, the god of nature, convinced Zeus to join the Amazons. Zeus came to Themyscira and celebrated with the Amazons before his advances on Wonder Woman were rebuffed. Then Zeus left, showing that he suffered an obvious insult.

Wonder Woman was later summoned to Olympus where she was commanded to descend into the tunnels beneath Themyscira to complete labors assigned to her by the assembled gods. Should she return with the treasure that Zeus desired, all would be forgiven. Despite Queen Hippolyta’s misgivings, Wonder Woman passed Doom’s Doorway where her first labor engaged her immediately. Cottus, the Hecatoncheir who had sided with his Titan siblings against the Olympians and had been kept prisoner in these caverns, attacked. Wonder Woman made short work of the colossal hundred-handed one, unfortunately for him.

---

References

1. Hecatoncheries on Wikipedia
2. Titanomachy on Marvel Database
3. Gaea (Earth-616) on Marvel Database
4. Ouranos (Earth-616) on Marvel Database
5. Hecatoncheries on DC Database
6. Eros (New Earth) on DC Database
7. Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #10 on DC Database
8. Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #11 on DC Database
9. Wonder Woman Vol. 2 #12 on DC Database

Aliases

• Centimani
• Hekatonchieres
• The Hundred-Handed Ones