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  The Telchines were thought to be the original inhabitants of the island of Rhodes. They were also present on Ceos and Crete. Hesiod called them malignant wizards, and Ovid celebrated their legendary skill as artisans. They were described as fish-like creatures and demons who acted as guardians and nurtured Poseidon and Zeus. Although they often helped the gods, their hubris and lust for power eventually led to their downfall.   The Origins of the Telchines The Mutilation of Uranus by Saturn, by Giorgio Vasari and Cristoforo Gherardi, 16th century. Source: USEUM   The origin of the Telchines is a topic of debate based on different Greek and Roman sources. Some accounts suggest that they are the offspring of Tartarus, the primordial father of monsters, and Nemesis, the Goddess of retribution. Other sources claim that the Telchines are the children of the primordial gods Pontus and Gaia, the personifications of the sea and the earth, respectively. Still, others believe that Thalassa, the female personification of the sea, is their mother.   In another version, the Telchines were created from Uranus’ blood. Uranus was the primordial god and personification of the sky. Uranus was castrated with a Scythe by his son, the Titan Cronos. In this version, the Telchines were formed when Uranus’ blood dripped onto the Earth, similar to how the furies and Aphrodite were created. Some also say that Poseidon was their father, but this account contradicts the limited information we have about these ancient beings.   Perseus and Andromeda (detail), by Joachim Wtewael, 1611. Source: Louvre Museum   The Telchines have multiple origin stories but each share some critical narrative threads that help establish a broad image of their creation. They are almost always described as the children of Protogenoi, the primordial gods who established the tangible fabric of the universe. Although these primordial deities are called gods, they were more closely connected to the foundational elemental forces they presided over. They are seen as the personification of these forces, more so than a deity that ruled over them. The Telchines’ association with the Protogenoi confirms that despite their relative ambiguity, they were very ancient beings that existed at a time similar to the Titans and before the Olympian gods.   Another similarity among the Telchines’ origin stories is their connection with the sea, although this theme is less prevalent than their association with the primordial gods. The Telchines’ connection with the sea provides some insight into their later roles in the early mythologies of ancient Greece.   What Did They Look Like? Man with a dog head, by Hartmann Schedel, 1493. Source: Beloit College   The Telchines were strange creatures associated with the sea and often referred to as fish children. They were known to have fin-like hands and dog-like heads. Descriptions of them are similar to those of merfolk, with some accounts stating that they had a fish’s lower body and a human-like upper body. Their skin was described as rough, like echinoids or sea urchins, which are hard-shelled sea animals with venomous spikes.   However, the Telchines were not limited to the sea and were also said to be able to walk and live on land. Due to the limited information available about the Telchines, descriptions of them are fluid and varied, allowing them to adapt to different settings and functions, underwater and on land, depending on the account.   The Abilities of the Telchines A Triton Blowing a Conch, by Jacques de Gheyn (III), 1616-1620. Source: Rijksmuseum   The Telchines are complex creatures with both benevolent and malevolent qualities. Their duality can be attributed to their two most prominent features: their formidable magical abilities, often referred to as demonic, and their unmatched metallurgic and artistic skills.   Malevolent Wizards  Manfred and the Witch of the Alps, by John Martin, 1837. Source: Web Gallery of Art   The Telchines were renowned for their extraordinary magical abilities that defined their very existence. They were often referred to as sorcerers or wizards by ancient writers, and cautionary tales were told about the dangers of their powerful magic.   The Telchines had the ability to control nature itself, and their powers were believed to be on par with those of the mighty Olympians. They could create lightning and snow, manipulate the seas, and even bring about devastating earthquakes. Furthermore, the Telchines could produce a poisonous substance that could harm all living things.   In addition to their power, the Telchines could change their shape at will. However, their use of magic was mostly malevolent. They were known to cause harm and curse innocent people, making them a destructive force to be reckoned with. The Telchines were accused of committing a heinous act by mixing the waters of the Styx with sulfur in their hands and pouring it over the fertile fields of Rhodes. This act resulted in the destruction of all plant and animal life on the island.   Benevolent Artisans  Neptune menaçant les vents, by Pietro della Vecchia, 1650. Source: Augustinian Museum   The Telchines were feared for their magical abilities, but they were also known for their exceptional skills as artisans and metallurgists. They were believed to be the first to work and shape iron and bronze into tools and weapons. Their excellent skills as metallurgists led to the creation of remarkable objects that benefited the Titans and the Olympians. Their creations cemented their status as some of the most skilled artisans of their time.   The Telchines created two of Greek mythology’s most famous magical artifacts: the Scythe of the Titans Cronos and the Trident of Poseidon. The Scythe of Cronus, used to castrate Uranus, the primordial personification of the sky, was the first weapon created in the mythological canon. The Trident of Poseidon is also one of the most identifiable symbols from Greek mythology, often used to represent both Poseidon and the Telchines themselves.   The Telchines’ metallurgy skills were not always necessarily benevolent. For instance, Hephaestus tasked them with assisting him with forging Harmonia’s cursed necklace. Despite the cursed nature of the creation, the Telchines were still working for the benefit of the Olympians, in contrast to their use of magic, often performed in opposition to the gods.   The Telchines were known not only for their skills in metallurgy but also for stone sculpting. They were the first to create marble statues of the gods, and the ancient Greeks highly regarded their masterpieces. According to the historian Diodorus Siculus, the Telchines were responsible for crafting statues of Apollo and Hera on the island of Rhodes in Lindus and Camirus, respectively.   Raising the Gods Jupiter Raised by the Korybantes, by Noël Coypel, 1705. Source: Château de Versailles   There are two interesting myths about the Telchines, both of which involve raising two important Olympian gods. According to one myth, the Titaness Rhea entrusted the Telchines with caring for Poseidon, the future sea god Capoeiraira, an Oceanid Sea nymph who nursed the infant Poseidon, aided them. The Telchines’ close association with Poseidon was further strengthened when they created his Trident after he gained power over the sea.   According to some versions of the myth, the Telchines were crucial in Zeus’s upbringing. In this version of the myth, Rhea takes nine Telchines from Rhodes to Crete and tasks them with protecting and nurturing Zeus in a cave on Mount Ida. These nine Telchines were later known as the Kouretes, and they protected the infant Zeus from his father, Cronos, by performing a frenzied dance. During this dance, they would bang their shields and spears together to drown out the sound of the infant’s cries.   The association between the Telchines and the Kouretes is not certain. The Kouretes were also considered daemons or spirits, like the Telchines, but they presided over mountains, hunting, beekeeping, and shepherding on the island of Crete. Unlike the Telchines, the Kouretes had no connection to the sea. However, both the Telchines and the Kouretes are credited with inventing metalworking. It seems that this shared similarity, along with their respective care for an Olympian, led to the two groups being merged into one at some point in history.   Downfall Jupiter; statue of the nude god seated on an eagle, holding a double trident, by Philips Galle, 1586. Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art   One constant theme in myths about the Telchines is their eventual downfall. The exact catalyst for their downfall was the Telchines’ hubris, as they turned to evil magic and lusted for power. The Telchines are benevolent servants of the gods and vindictive sorcerers, but these depictions do not occur simultaneously. It seems that initially, the Telchines began as dedicated servants of the gods and Titans, offering their skills as artisans and protectors.   The Telchines’ behaviour took a turn for the worse after they created Poseidon’s Trident. They became engrossed in pursuing methods to create more powerful items and fixated on acquiring other means of power. The Telchines tapped into new and destructive types of magic that allowed them complete mastery over the weather and the earth. This new obsession transformed the Telchines’ reputation from respected artisans entrusted with the care of Rhea’s sons to malevolent sorcerers who jealously coveted their power. The Telchines began to cause harm and place curses on any who tried to learn their secret art.   The Olympians became concerned about the Telechine’s use of destructive magic. However, the final straw was when they mixed the waters of the river Styx with sulphur, poisoning all living things on Rhodes Island. The reason for this act of destruction is not apparent in many sources. In a later Roman account by Nonnus, it is suggested that the Telchines performed this foul magic as revenge against the Heliades, who had driven them out of Rhodes. The Heliades were the seven sons of Helios, the sun god, and Rhode, a sea nymph goddess who personified the island of Rhodes.   Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Plate 68 Jupiter, by Johann Wilhelm Baur, 1641. Source: The British Museum.   There are different versions of the story of how Telchines were destroyed. In some accounts, Zeus destroys them with thunderbolts or creates a flood that sinks them into the sea. Other versions claim that the Telchines were driven off the island of Rhodes when Zeus caused a great deluge to punish humanity, and they weren’t explicitly killed for their malevolent magic or hubris. In other versions, Poseidon destroys the Telchines using the Trident they created for him. In some accounts, Apollo transforms into a wolf and kills the Telchines, leading to their demise. After being defeated, the Telchines were banished to Tartarus by the gods.   Unfortunately, very little information about the Telchines has survived over time. Although several ancient writers mention them, they only do so briefly and often present contradictory images of these elusive beings. The Telchines are often confused with other mythological figures like the Cyclopes who lived underwater and forged Zeus’s thunder, the Kouretes dancers from Crete, and the ancient smiths and healers, the Dactyls.   These strange and rustic figures share a common talent for metalworking and, to some extent, control over nature. However, their unique duality sets the Telchines apart as celebrated artisans and demonic wizards who possess the ability to both create and destroy. The Telchines illustrate how myths and stories can manifest figures over history, shifting and changing to suit context and narrative.

  Ancient Egyptian civilization was complex, stratified, and highly organized. Specialized professions quickly emerged to allow for the division of labor and the development of expertise, leading to advancement and expansion. There was a great variety of jobs in ancient Egypt from laborers to high priests. There were also professions that might seem unusual today, but were integral to life in ancient Egypt. Below are five of the more interesting professions from the ancient Egyptian world.   1. Astrologer Wall painting of the zodiac sign Sagittarius, Temple of Esna (near Luxor), c. 40-250 CE. Source: Smithsonian Magazine.   While many Egyptologists don’t think the earliest Egyptians practiced astrology as we know it today, there is a consensus that they did believe that star alignments and constellations influenced life on earth. It is well-known that ancient Egyptians developed a sophisticated system of astronomy and used it to predict the annual inundation of the Nile River.   The ancient Egyptians had their own constellations, which may have been used for astrological purposes. With the arrival of the Greek in the 4th century BCE, they learned about Greek astrology, which uses the 12 zodiac signs familiar from modern Western astrology. The Egyptians combined this with their native astronomical knowledge and became respected astrologers. Construction of the Temple of Esna near Luxor began in the 3rd century BCE and features the 12 signs of the zodiac among its decorations.   There are few records of professional astrologists in early Egyptian history, but the few that are documented were highly regarded. Born during the 27th century BCE, Imhotep was an architect, astrologer, and chief minister to Djoser, the second king of Egypt’s third dynasty. Born as a commoner, Imhotep rose to become Djoser’s most important advisor, and oversaw the construction of the king’s tomb at Saqqara.   Another major contributor to Egyptian astrology was Claudius Ptolemaeus, better known as Ptolemy. An astronomer, writer, and mathematician of Greek descent, Ptolemy lived and worked in the great city of Alexandria during the 2nd century CE. Ptolemy was a firm believer in the legitimacy of astrology and composed extensive written works on the subject.   2. Exorcist Reliefs depicting demons guarding a gate from the tomb of Menekhibenekau at the necropolis of Abusir, c. 688-525 BCE. Source: Archaeology, Archaeological Institute of America.   Ancient Egyptians believed in the existence of deities, spirits, and demons. They gave great importance to rituals, spells, and sacred texts as forms of protection from evil, disease, and misfortune. Magic was an essential part of healing rituals performed by specialist priests and trained exorcists.   While many of these rituals were intended to invoke blessings from the gods, they were primarily used to ward off evil spirits, or demons, who caused disease and misfortune. Exorcists relied on a collection of spells and incantations known as Execration Texts to expel these evil spirits.   Stone inscribed in hieratic text with a tomb warning from Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, c. 1295-1069 BCE. Source: National Museums Scotland.   Dating back to the Old Kingdom, Execration Texts served many purposes. They were sometimes used as curses for potential tomb robbers or were intended to thwart Egypt’s enemies during times of war.   3. Scribe Pyramid Text from the pyramid of Teti, the first pharaoh of the 6th dynasty, c. 2323-2291 BCE. Source: Daily News Egypt.   The earliest reference to scribes in ancient Egypt was found in the Pyramid Texts, a collection of mortuary prayers, charms, and spells inscribed on pyramid walls to aid the king in the afterlife. Dating back to the Old Kingdom, the Pyramid Texts are the oldest Egyptian religious writings that have been recovered.   Scribes were very highly regarded in ancient Egypt, and were instrumental in administrative, religious, and trade activities. In ancient Egypt’s stratified society, scribes were allowed into the upper class and had access to wealth and privilege. Other advantages granted to the profession included the exemption from taxes and manual labor.   Statue of a seated scribe, c. 2600-2350 BCE. Source: Louvre, Paris.   Scribes helped to manage tax records, censuses, and construction projects among other administrative operations. Some also wrote religious texts and continued their training to become priests and advisors. Specialized scribes painted images and text on the inside of royal tombs and temples and created important written works like the Book of the Dead. Scribes learned their craft in specialized schools, sometimes continuing their training in apprenticeships.   4. Wig Maker Quartzite head of Amenhotep III wearing a round wig, c. 1390-1352 BCE. Source: Cleveland Museum of Art.   For millennia, people of all cultures have used hair as a canvas for self-expression, and the ancient Egyptians were no exception. Hairstyles reflected social status, gender, and stages in life. Thanks to well-preserved tomb paintings and carvings, we are able to determine how Egyptians used hairstyles to represent their place in society.   High ranking officials, kings, and pharaohs wore wigs, with men keeping their natural hair short or shaven and women typically growing their hair long. While both men and women of the upper class wore wigs, Egyptians outside of the elite class were depicted with their natural hair.   Elite men and women typically wore longer, elaborate wigs, sometimes adorned with gold or gem amulets. Junior members of the household, specifically sons, usually wore short, simple wigs, while women of all classes usually had longer hair. Ancient Egyptians also used hair extensions to add volume to their hairstyles.   These wigs and extensions were made in specialized shops from human or horsehair, with beeswax and resin used to secure the hair to fabric. Extensions were attached to hair by way of knots, threads, or braids. Ceremonial wigs were often more elaborate, with palm fiber used to give greater volume to the crown.   Wigs were worn according to occasion, and they were created in different styles that were deemed appropriate for either everyday wear, social gatherings, festivities, or rituals. Given the expense, this variety was only accessible to the elite class.   Wigs were also considered to be beneficial to hygiene and offer protection from the often-harsh climate of ancient Egypt. It was easier to keep hair clean, protect the scalp from the sun, and avoid pests such as lice.   5. Beer Brewer Ceramic beer jar recovered from Esna, Egypt, c. 1650-1550 B.C.E. Source: British Museum, London.   To the ancient Egyptians, beer was an essential part of their diet. So much so that it was regarded as a nutritious food. Beer was consumed during rituals, celebrations, and on an everyday basis. Pyramid workers were even paid in beer – as much as five liters per day.   While the Sumerians were the actual inventors of beer, the ancient Egyptians are credited with perfecting the art of brewing. Mesopotamian beer was thick and soupy, and one had to drink it through a straw. Through practice and experimentation, Egyptians created a lighter, smoother beer that was easier to drink and enjoy.   Like modern brews, Egyptian beers were classified by flavor and strength, with an average alcohol content of about three to four percent, and a wide variety of flavorings including herbs, spices, and fruit. Beer consumed during ceremonies or celebrations was typically of a superior quality and higher alcohol content. Everyday beer is thought to have been slightly sweet, much like a modern brown ale.   Stela of Renefseneb depicting an offering of bread and beer, found near Thebes, c. 1765-1763 BCE. Source: British Museum, London.   Beer was continuously made in most Egyptian households, but there were brewers’ shops and large-scale breweries to keep up with a growing demand in cities. Brewers had their own specialties, producing everyday beers, ceremonial brews, and high quality, custom beers for the elite and royal households.   In the early 20th century, archaeologist T. Eric Peet discovered a site that he initially thought was used to dry and safely store grain. In 2018, the site was rediscovered and excavated, uncovering what turned out to be the oldest large-scale brewery in the world. Located at a funerary site in Abydos, the brewery is believed to date to around 3150 BCE.   Vessels discovered at the Abydos brewery, c. 3150 BCE. Source: BBC.   Researchers believe that this brewery supplied the elite and royal households with ceremonial beer consumed at rituals inside the funerary structures at Abydos. It is estimated that this brewery produced as much as 5,900 gallons at a time.