Damysus or Damysos (Greek: Δάμυσος), was the fastest of all the Giants in the Greek mythology.
In the sixth book of the New History, ascribed by Photius to Ptolemy Hephaestion, mention that Thetis, the mother of Achilles, burned in a secret place the children she had by Peleus, but when she had Achilles, Peleus noticed and tore him from the flames with only a burnt foot, then confided him to the centaur Chiron.
Later, Chiron exhumed the body of the Damysus who was buried at Pallene, removed the ankle and incorporated it into Achilles' burnt foot. The ankle fell when Achilles was pursued by Apollo during the Trojan War and it was thus that Achilles was killed.[1]
References
- ^ Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History Book 6 "Thetis burned in a secret place the children she had by Peleus; six were born; when she had Achilles, Peleus noticed and tore him from the flames with only a burnt foot and confided him to Chiron. The latter exhumed the body of the giant Damysos who was buried at Pallene -- Damysos was the fastest of all the giants -- removed the 'astragale' and incorporated it into Achilles' foot using 'ingredients'. This 'astragale' fell when Achilles was pursued by Apollo and it was thus that Achilles, fallen, was killed. It is said, on the other hand, that he was called Podarkes by the Poet, because, it is said, Thetis gave the newborn child the wings of Arce and Podarkes means that his feet had the wings of Arce."
