“The Myth of Talos”: The First Robot in History

The idea of developing robots intended for military applications is being discussed ad nauseam, but it is not that new. In fact, it has a very special chapter within Greek mythology through Talos, the indestructible bronze giant who patrolled the island of Crete three times a day, sinking, crushing, and/or burning any intruder. There are several versions of the myth of Talos; however, one of them explores the robot's desire to live eternally…

From Golem to Greek Myth

If we think of a giant created to defend its master and his interests, it is inevitable to arrive at the concept of the golem, which dates back to the beginnings of Judaism, and to the creation of Adam himself (which in one of its stages would technically qualify as a golem). Now, where does magic end and robotics begin? The golem is “animated”, with the will of its creator (through a symbol, a letter, or a word) imposed upon an inert material. But if we move to Greek mythology, we find the fascinating case of Talos, which definitely has an extra layer of complexity.

Two Versions of the Myth

The most popular versions are two: The first describes Talos as a gift from Zeus (made to order by Hephaestus, god of fire and the forge) for Europa, one of his many… “favorites”, kidnapped by the King of the Gods in the form of a white bull. The second removes Zeus from the equation (partially) and places Hephaestus at the center, who supposedly gave the bronze giant to Minos, King of Crete. Either way, Talos's role is always the same: patrol the island three times a day and immediately annihilate any intruder.

The Power of the Gods

One of the most interesting aspects of Talos is its power source: Ichor, the blood of the gods. The story suggests that Talos had a single vein, running from his neck to his ankle (!), sealed by a simple nail or screw. Throughout his existence, Talos was relentless: giant rocks were thrown from the coast, sinking any ship that tried to approach. If anyone managed to survive, Talos would heat his body red-hot and crush them against his chest while they burned.

But Talos was “more alive” than many thought. The fate of the bronze colossus was sealed with the arrival of the Argonauts in Crete. The team of heroes had obtained the Golden Fleece, but they needed to stop to rest and collect water. Crete was the only option, and when they approached the coast, Talos was waiting for them. However, Medea was part of the group. Here the plot divides into four possibilities: Medea drove Talos mad with her potions, tricked him into believing she could make him immortal (which suggests that Talos was unaware of his automaton nature), or hypnotized him from the Argo, always with the plan to remove the nail and let the ichor escape from Talos's body. The fourth route suggests that Peas tore out the nail with an arrow.

The ichor “flowed like molten lead”, and the unbeatable defender of Crete ceased to exist. One of the most famous representations of the death of Talos, placed on a krater from the 5th century BC, shows Talos crying before dying. Of course, none of this can be confirmed due to its mythological nature, but the idea of a Talos more human than robot, with our same doubts and anxieties (mortality being the most important), resonates deeply.