the giants revolt

The Giants' Revolt Enraged because Zeus had confined their brothers, the Titans, in Tartarus, certain tall and terrible giants plotted an assault on Heaven. They had been born from Mother Earth at Thracian Phlegra, twenty-four in number. Without warning, they seized rocks and fire-brands and hurled them upwards from their mountain tops, so that the Olympians were hard pressed. Hera prophesied that the giants could never be killed by any god, but only by a …

…Zeus groped about, found the herb, and brought it safely to Heaven. The Olympians could now join battle with the giants. Heracles let loose his first arrow against Aclyoneus, the enemy's leader. He fell, but sprang up again revived, because this was his native soil of Phlegra. 'Quick!' cried Athene. 'Drag him away to another country!' Heracles caught Aclyoneus and dragged him over the Tracian border, where he despatched him with a club.