indicate the level to which a name has been verified.Gender Masculine
Usage Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Scripts Ancient Greek: Τιτυός (Tityós)
Other Forms FormsTityus: Latinized form of the name. Titye: Alternative transliteration found in some texts.
Meaning & History
The exact etymology of Tityos is uncertain. Some scholars suggest a connection to the Greek word tisis (τίσις), meaning "retribution" or "vengeance," implying "he who suffers retribution." Alternatively, it may relate to titio, a Latin term meaning "firebrand," symbolizing torment or punishment. In Greek mythology, Tityos was a giant, the son of Zeus and the mortal woman Elara. To protect Elara from Hera's jealousy, Zeus hid her beneath the Earth, where she gave birth to Tityos. Due to his immense size, Gaia (the Earth) took over as his surrogate mother. Tityos is best known for his attempt to assault Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis. In retaliation, Apollo and Artemis killed him. As punishment, Tityos was condemned to Tartarus, where he was stretched over nine acres, and two vultures fed on his regenerating liver for eternity.