Alkyoneus

This name derives from the Ancient Greek “alkuṓn (ἀλκυών) aukuṓn (αὐκυών) Alkuoneús (Ἀλκυονεύς),” meaning “Kingfisher.” Some unreliable Greek sources support that it derives from the following two elements: “háls (ἅλς)” (salt, brine, sea, wit) plus “kyéo (κυέω)” (cover, hide “Attic Greek: pregnant”).” Alkyoneus was the king of the Thracian giants, who was slain by Heracles. He was the eldest of the Thrakian Gigantes. He was immortal but only within the confines of his homeland of Pallene. Alkyoneus was a giant, who kept possession of the isthmus of Corinth at the time when Heracles drove away from the oxen of Geryon. The giant attacked him, crushed twelve wagons, and twenty-four of the men of Heracles with a massive block of stone. Heracles himself warded off the stone with his club and slew Alkyoneus.