talOS

Talos is a figure from Greek mythology, described as a bronze automaton who guarded the island of Crete. In the most common accounts, Talos was forged by Hephaestus, or by Hephaestus at the behest of Zeus, to protect King Minos and Crete from invasion. He was a single, bronze giant who patrolled the coastline, circling the island three times each day.

A defining feature of Talos was a single vein of ichor, the divine life-blood, running through his body from neck to ankle. This vein was sealed by a bronze nail in his ankle, and the nail acted as a locking mechanism for his life-force. If the nail were removed or his vein punctured, Talos would bleed out and die. Tales vary on the circumstances, but many versions describe his weakness as the nail’s removal.

One well-known myth recounts Jason and the Argonauts visiting Crete. In some tellings, Medea or the islanders used magical means to remove the nail, causing Talos to spill his ichor and expire. The tale casts Talos as an early example of an artificial or supernatural guardian.

In modern usage, Talos appears as a proper name in various contexts. Cisco Talos refers to Cisco Systems’ threat intelligence and security research group. In popular culture, Talos is also the name of a Skrull character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.