Aegaeon
(
Αἰγαίων). The son of Uranus (Heaven) by Gaea (Earth).
Aegaeon and his brothers Gyes or Gyges and Cottus are known under the name of the Uranidae,
and are described as huge monsters with 100 arms and 50 heads. Most writers mention the third
Uranid under the name of Briareus instead of Aegaeon, which is explained by Homer (
Il. i. 403), who says that men called him Aegaeon, but the gods
Briareus. According to the most ancient tradition, Aegaeon and his brothers conquered the
Titans when they made war upon the gods, and secured the victory to Zeus, who thrust the
Titans into Tartarus, and placed Aegaeon and his brothers to guard them.
Other legends represent Aegaeon as one of the giants who attacked Olympus; and many writers
represent him as a marine god living in the Aegaean Sea. See Hesiod,
Theog.
149, 502, 617, etc.;
Apollod. i. i. 1;
Hom. Il. i. 398 foll.