Talos

In Greek mythology, Talos — also spelled Talus (; , Tálōs) or Talon (; , Tálōn) — was a giant automaton made of bronze to protect Europa in Crete from pirates and invaders. He circled the island's shores three times daily. Narrative Talos is usually said to have been made by Hephaestus at the request of Zeus, to protect Europa from people who would want to kidnap her. (According to B.A. Sparkes (1996), "The most detailed treatment in literature is to be found in the Argonautica [3rd century BC] ... however, we have detailed images of the episode, 150 years earlier, dated to around 400 BC.") According to (pseudo-)Apollodorus, however, there were three theories regarding Talos: Talos may have been a survivor from the Age of Bronze, a descendant of the brazen race that sprang from meliae "ash-tree nymphs" according to Argonautica (The conception that Hesiod's men of the Age of Bronze were actually made of bronze is extended to men of the age of gold by Lucian for humorous effect). Talos was a brass humanoid measuring 30m high, who was forged by the god Hephaestus and was given to Minos to protect the island of Crete against the invaders. The island was 260 km long and Talos had to cover this distance 3 times a day. Talos was a brass bull who was forged by the god Hephaestus and was given to Minos