Telchines

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In Greek mythology, the Telchines were the original inhabitants of the island of Rhodes, and were known in Crete and Cyprus. They were regarded as excellent metallurgists. By some accounts, their children were the goddesses Ialysa, Kamira and Linda. The Telchines raised Poseidon and were associated with the Cyclopes, Dactyls and Curetes. The gods killed them because they turned into evil wizards. Clearly, the Telchines apparently lost one of the titanomachias. Alternatively, there were nine Telchines, children of Thalassa and Pontus. They had flippers instead of hands and dogs' heads; they were known as fish children.

[edit] Origins

Research suggests they were the original gods of Rhodes, before the advent of Greek monoculture. In the classical records of the post-catastrophe period, the Telchines tend to play an important part which link them to myths involving Atlantis. This race of artificers, artists and magicians, connected with the sea at every stage in their history, were entrusted by Rhea with the upbringing of Poseidon, which they accomplished with the aid of Caphiera, the daughter of Oceanus.

Another version says that Rhea accompanied them to Crete from Rhodes, where nine of the Telchines (Nine Muses?), known as the Curetes, were selected to bring up Zeus.

We have the names of seventeen:

1. Aktaios (Actaeus)

2. Argyron

3. Atabyrius

4. Chalcon

5. Chryson

6. Hormenius

7. Lykos (Lycus or Lyktos)

8. Megalesius

9. Mylas

10. Nicon

11. Simon

12. Zenob

13. Skelmis

14. Damnameneus

15. Damon (Demonax)

16. Megalesios

17. Ormenos

The only female known was Caphiera, mentioned above, which shows that Oceanus was linked to the Telchines. They were said to have been destroyed by the flood. They were skilled metal workers in brass and iron, and made a trident for Poseidon and a Sickle for Cronus, both ceremonial weapons. It is this ability to cast metal that would make them appear magical to early societies, and may have been a real, but advanced race of people. They could bring about hailstorms, snow, and rain at will, and produced a mixture of stygian water and sulfur, which killed animals and plants. Their habits has been variously given on most of the islands of the Eastern Mediterranean.

[edit] Video games

In the video game Titan Quest, the Telchines appear as Telkines and are great sorcerers with grey skin, glowing eyes and a great evil. There are many Telkines in its story, but there are only three making appearance in the game: Megalesios, Aktaios and Ormenos.