Alcyoneus or Alkyoneus (Greek: Ἀλκυονεύς) is a name that refers to several distinct figures in Greek mythology.
Alcyoneus was the eldest of the Thracian Gigantes of Greek mythology.[1] He was born (like all other Gigantes) in full armor with a spear in his hand. He was the most prominent of the Gigantes who led a major rebellion against the Olympian Gods and was born to defeat Hades, and was said to be immortal in his homeland, Pallene.
Alcyoneus was in possession of the Isthmus of Corinth at the time when Heracles drove away the oxen of Geryon. The giant attacked him, crushed twelve wagons and twenty-four of the men of Heracles with a huge block of stone. Heracles himself warded off the stone with his club and slew Alcyoneus. The block with which the giant had attacked Heracles was shown on the isthmus down to a very late period.[2] In another passage Pindar calls Alcyoneus a Thracian shepherd, and places the struggle with him in the Phlegraean plains.[3]
According to Pseudo-Apollodorus, Heracles sneaked up on Alcyoneus and wounded him, although the giant did not die until Heracles dragged him out of his homeland, Pallene.[4]
His seven daughters are the Alkyonides.[5]
Alcyoneus is also the name of three minor mythological figures: