Balors
Balors are legendary figures found mainly in early Irish mythology, most famously the giant king of the Fomorians known as Balor of the Eye. According to the texts of the Synod of Cashel and the annals of the kings, Balor was the progeny of the goddess Elm and was cursed to have a single eye in his forehead that could fire destructive rays of fire and death. He ruled the land of Fomor, a realm outside the world of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and was known for his immense strength, keen sense of smell and wisdom in warfare. Balor’s reign came to an end at the Battle of Mag Tuired, where the hero Fionn MacCumhaill and his companions overthrew him, following a prophecy that the blind would be used to assassination by his own eye. The combat ended when Fionn threw an iron spear into Balor’s eye, killing him and destroying the projectile effect of his destructive gaze.
The name Balor also appears in various modern adaptations. In comic books, a character named Balor is