The Greek myth of Talos, the first robot - Adrienne Mayor

Get to know the myth of Talos, a robot powered by ichor and created by Hephaestus to defend the island kingdom of Crete from intruders.
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Hephaestus, god of technology, was hard at work on his most ingenious invention yet. He was creating a new defense system for King Minos, who wanted fewer intruders on his island kingdom of Crete. But mortal guards and ordinary weapons wouldn’t suffice, so the visionary god devised an indomitable new defender. Adrienna Mayor dives into the myth of Talos: the first robot.
Lesson by Adrienne Mayor, directed by Cabong Studios.
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[@lazycat836]

God of Technology: *build a giant robot with a giant bolt as a weakpoint* Dr Doofenshmirtz: *build everything with an obviously exposed self-destruct button* Dr Doof: And they say I'm crazy

[@aguydan866]

Lazy Cat Galactic Empire: builds a planet destroyer with a weak point reachable from outside.

[@Lumberjack_king]

What's with wepeons with obvious weak points

[@Lumberjack_king]

A button is really obvious if I saw that bolt I need a giant wrench or just put it on the head

[@Irondragon1945]

Best character of the most recent kids shows. I love it.

[@Paul-A01]

It's a safety feature. A primitive e-stop

[@PhilippineLuLu8423]

*Achilles' heel* *Talos' heel*

[@thesecondapollo4826]

The heel a universal weakness

[@grmph]

Talos' bolt

[@MichaelSBaram]

*silent heel*

[@stevied3400]

Philippine LuLu Talus is the Latin word for ankle.

[@537CH]

Greek Mythology is consistent

[@Irondragon1945]

Ted-Ed doing their best to supply with the daily dose of existential crisis

[@TEDEd]

We do what we can!

[@dhpstudios3451]

Yes

[@sebastiandevosi7043]

k

[@samedwards3285]

*_TED ED LOVES MEMES ITS CANON NOW_*

[@astronxmically2817]

@@TEDEd lmao

[@alexanderchippel]

So the story is essentially: "Security Gaurd Murdered by Burglars."

[@dineshprasad7791]

No bro. One robot army stabbed on his ankle by betrayal .

[@nyhyl]

Or "Robot that kills by squeezing and frying alive finally destroyed."

[@louisyama9145]

Omg 666

[@someonesomewhere8869]

781st like. WoW ThAt'S sO aMaZiNg.

[@infinityxtanishq8712]

Guard

[@km1dash6]

The story is often used to ask the question "what makes us human" rather than the more modern question of "can we create a robot that's like a human." The Greeks believed that it was that mind, the rich inner life of Talos (his emotions, imagination, and intellect), as well as his creation by the gods, that made him human. It also is meant to show that what makes us human isn't the body, but the nonphysical mind.

[@3pillars895]

Greatly said!

[@PandaBeatsStudios]

Japan: “We invented mechas first!” Greece: *Laughs in Talos.*

[@whathell6t]

PyroPanda Studios Is that a Mazinger Z reference? (Thumbs up to people who remembers the actual plot of Go Nagai's Mazinger Z, the first true mecha anime).

[@TGM_2674]

PyroPanda Studios I thought it supposed to be Talos: Laughs in Greece...

[@VietVuHunzter]

I remember reading this: When in doubt about origin of something, just think that it came from ancient Greece.

[@Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

@@whathell6t Mazinger transforming into Zeus' severed fist was amazing

[@AirQuotes]

@@VietVuHunzter I mean they pretty much invented everything so...

[@connor4549]

"My ancestors are smiling at me Imperial, can you say the same ?"

[@barkingamer4225]

As fearless in death, as he was in life

[@RenMagnum4057]

Death to the Stormcloaks!

[@steliosdo]

Justiiiceeee

[@TheAilmam]

LMAO Skyrim references cracks me up

[@angeldroidcs4962]

I was an adventure like you till I took an arrow to the knee

[@solepula]

Now imagine if Hephaestus made Terminators...

[@ZeGreatStick]

Now imagine Jason and the Argonauts stumbling across a T-800

[@PaleFatalis]

I need your helmet, your cuirass, and your trireme

[@solepula]

Evan GET TO DA TRIREME!!!

[@freetoplayking7362]

they would overthrow us and replace us as the dominant race it would be terminator meets neir :automata

[@heavenmood553]

got a terminator ad before this video started

[@ryanrodriguez7911]

As an Elder Scrolls fan, knowing that an Emperor named Talos used a Brass God robot thing to help conqure the world makes slightly more sense now.

[@aa306911]

I do this for you, red legion, for I love you!

[@isaachester8475]

“Powered by the life-fluid of the gods” in the myth, meanwhile the Numidium is powered by the heart of a god

[@jamiehughes5573]

Numidium was powered by the heart of lorkhan

[@ThePissedOffOwl]

I wonder if anyone on those boats shouted “What In Oblivion is that?!” When they saw talos

[@Yuuni_Shiroza]

*Music starts playing*

[@phos4552]

Sentries, what do you see?

[@okok-fs4qe]

Captain?!

[@ra_alf9467]

"GET PEOPLE TO SAFETY"

[@sombrerostalin1499]

STAY CLOSE TO THE WALL!

[@osse1n]

*Moral of the story* When you don't feel whole, others will take advantage of you

[@zxGHOSTr]

Stop it! Why are you everywhere?

[@haanhdo4190]

Very true

[@haanhdo4190]

@UCfaPstQmIjonmwZnXH6YMoQ I don't really consider this spamming. He doesn't promote his content, or tell people to check out his channel (at least I haven't seen it) He is in the comment section of almost all educational/self improvement channels I follow, and looking at is channel name, that makes sense. He just has a recognizable avatar and name, and is an actively engaging subscriber, the last is highly valuable to KZbin creators. I don't deny he is most likely trying to grow his own channel. But what's so bad about that? In his comments, he gives what many self help channels call "nugget of wisdom" appropriate with the video content. If it resonates with people, then they are compelled to check out his channel. If not, carry on then. It's actually a respectable way of leveraging existing channels to grow your own.

[@osse1n]

@@haanhdo4190 This was one thoughtful summation. I salute you for being so sensible. Keep rockin'

[@weirdreportt]

You know it was a thoughtful and wonderful educational content if this guy comments on a certain video.

[@andrewgutmann9432]

**The Thalmor would like to know your location.**

[@arifhossain9751]

*TALOS WORSHIP HAS BEEN OUTLAWED IN SKYRIM*

[@merrittanimation7721]

SKYRIM BELONGS TO THE NORDS

[@StevAna8902]

*WHITE-GOLD CONCORDAT*

[@cosmicintervention9869]

lxs0713 “shut up and let’s get this over with” 😂

[@thewanderingcreative7173]

My ancestors smile upon me imperial! Can you say the same?!

[@teteachhakx4655]

'They say Ulfric Stormcloak murdered the High King, with his voice Shouted him apart'

[@falpsdsqglthnsac]

Wrong Talos, buddy.

[@mariogonzalez4928]

@@falpsdsqglthnsac I hate when I confuse my Taloses

[@rizqirizaldo]

"Gotta keep my eyes open, damn dragons could swoop down at any time"

[@stiffpictures8971]

“You there, you were at the wedding?”

[@jackmurray411]

Mario Gonzalez is it Taloses or Talosi?

[@huldrrrr9486]

Talos is probably one of the most sympathetic figures in greek mythology imo ;-;

[@Zephyrus0]

Prometheus :]

[@astick5249]

Karkenos. Just a random crab sent to distract Heracles fighting Hydra, but ended up getting kicked/stepped on and died. The god who sent him felt bad for it, so she turned it to the constellation cancer.

[@fashizzle78]

No that would be Medusa

[@johngr1747]

He's the ancient Iron Giant lol

[@Hanma420]

Ancient Greece: Talos was a giant automaton Skyrim players: *visible confusion*

[@TheAnalatheist]

He did drive a giant automaton though.

[@rmt3589]

Talos! The god of man!

[@NotASovietSpy1]

C0DA makes it cannon

[@somethingsomethingsomethin9009]

@@NotASovietSpy1 *shivers in need to negate C0DA's cannon-ness*

[@l0remipsum991]

TALOS THE MIGHTY! TALOS THE UNERRING!

[@pyroVoid]

Is it weird that I feel bad for Talos in this story of the Argonauts, rather than relief that the humans survived?

[@hellatze]

That because you watch cartoon. Imagine of it designed to be realistic and menancing.

[@nin2494]

hellatze then I’d still feel the same, to judge any sentient creature by its appearances is simply arrogant.

[@hellatze]

@@nin2494 that robot. destroy innocent ship that pass or make landing. also survivor fried to death.

[@poopyjoe1496]

hellatze he’s doing his job.

[@karlturner5678]

There are a great many times in Greek myth that you feel much worse for the supposed antagonists. Homer knew what he was doing.

[@CrayRT]

Moral of the story: If you are facing an undefeatable opponent, his weakness is in the heel.

[@weirdreportt]

Greek myth in a nutshell

[@razi_man]

I thought it was the balls, but that makes sense too.

[@leighharveycabatic8791]

I mean, Hephaestus gave Talos a literal Achilles' Heel

[@muukku]

noooo don't cry Talos ;(

[@The_Raven_]

;.(

[@hectorluis7630]

F for the big bronce bro

[@jetrickgordo4026]

@@hectorluis7630 that's a good name.

[@avr4h]

No more tears, Talos. Only dreams now.

[@arisparks8474]

@@avr4h so sad kinda reminds me of.... *bendy.*

[@wargriffin5]

Trump: "We're gonna build a wall..." King Minos: "We're gonna build a ROBOT..."

[@GreatMewtwo]

To be fair, King Minos had a labyrinth and a creature that we now call the Minotaur.

[@sebshifter]

And Rhodes is gonna pay for it !

[@Zapzel24]

Build a giant robot dip it in gold and make Macedonia pay for it.

[@frozenmnl9453]

me:we're gonna build a laser wall and a laser cannon

[@kartikmishra1935]

Its evolving... Just backwards

[@labomemnumbazerozeroyon7085]

Just a thought: what if these robot concepts had blueprints stored in the library of alexandria.

[@imthecoolestguyalive]

That's actually really interesting.

[@Nachos237]

The knowledge we've lost

[@OleandyrTheGreatDragonGod]

As if I didn't already want to cry for the lost knowledge from the library of Alexandria...

[@Xagelas]

They did

[@thanoskoumpanis9699]

They are under the Vatican now...

[@MichaelSmith-ij2ut]

This explains Talos' use of the Numidium to conquer Tamriel.

[@TheArklyte]

TES fans finally getting the reference decades later...

[@Civilixation]

TheArklyte sorry not everyone can be as cool as you with knowing this useless information.

[@theprimegamers4223]

Plot twist this was written by hiemsker

[@ra_alf9467]

*TALOS IS THE TRUE GOD OF MAN*

[@DarkArtistKaiser]

@@TheArklyte To be fair, it was lore that wasn't exactly in our face, neither did I know of this myth til I saw this video. But once I put the two together it made alot of sense.

[@madcat789]

WORSHIP THE ALMIGHTY TALOS, FOR I *LOVE* YOH!

[@stiffpictures8971]

madcat789 *TALOS WORSHIP IS ILLEGAL! HALT!* “You have committed crimes against Skyrim and her people. What say you in your defense?”

[@rorya01ok37]

@@stiffpictures8971 *presses b* Guard: alright then...

[@AnsonCTA]

Talos:" I used to be an automaton in Greece. Then I took an arrow in the knee..."

[@rizqihidayatullah6474]

"Then some people took a bolt on my feet"

[@captainvalourous6668]

Achilles: First time?

[@7ultras157]

Nice

[@BobMarley-vj3ol]

I just to be a security guard until I got a bolt removed from the back of my ankle

[@swordofstabbingold]

"Then the thalmor banned my worship"

[@optillian4182]

Interloper: *survives* Talos: INITIATING BEAR HUG OF DEATH

[@ScytheSpear]

So basically Vulkan

[@oleksiimusiienko7326]

@@ScytheSpear stomp-stomp.

[@ScytheSpear]

@@oleksiimusiienko7326 VULKAN LIVES! (STOMP-STOMP)

[@carjosephmaligmat3978]

@@ScytheSpear Vulkan: I want to boop that snoot

[@Zephyrus0]

Vulkan (or Vulcan) is just the Roman version of Hephaestus, the creator of Talos. :]

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

Greek researchers now believe that the "ichor" contained in the body of Talos was hydraulic fluid, which makes perfect sense for a moving robot. Imagine Daedalus discovering hydraulic principles, then building a bronze robot to use it. **GENIUS!!**

[@hanbigim]

so that means the gods are just big mechs?

[@afggetlost1342]

@@hanbigim fate entered the chat

[@cloeyay]

*The ancient iron man*

[@BrunoFialho86]

You mean bronze man

[@quintenwhyte6660]

The ancient Sentinel

[@minms38]

Loki's destroyer Greek version

[@evangelakillian4273]

More like iron giant

[@HelamanGile]

@@BrunoFialho86 you beat me to it

[@kasinokaiser1319]

Imagine if in the middle of 300, a robot creation comes out and starts beating up the Persians

[@xxAnaconta]

Little known fact, it was actually a massive automaton controlled by Themistocles that destroyed the Persian fleet at Salamis.

[@kasinokaiser1319]

xxAnaconta But before that, the giant robot Leonidastron yeeted the Persian ogre and the elephants back towards Xerxes in his camp

[@freetoplayking7362]

it would be as awesome as it would be historically inaccurate so it balances out

[@kasinokaiser1319]

Mullerornis What are they called?

[@kasinokaiser1319]

Mullerornis Then let's have a Mediterranean Transformers battle, directed by Mikalos Beyenes

[@riverstyxvacation9597]

"He possessed an internal life that his victims could scarcely imagine." *ROCK...TREE...*

[@imthecoolestguyalive]

You stay. I go. No following.

[@kellydalstok8900]

Mind the size of a planet, and all he had to do was defend an island.

[@obscuremix8198]

As a fan of robots and robot related fiction, I fell in love with the video, the animation and the myth of Talos. Thank you very much TED-Ed.

[@terrorbytez_3980]

never knew that Optimus Prime had an ancestor

[@caesar7734]

Olympus Prime

[@typhoonofideas]

Nice episode. Humans' capacity for empathy is so big that they can empathize even with robots' tears.

[@samuelwithers2221]

It's because robots are an inherently human idea, and thus we will always see ourselves in them, for they are our children, in a sense

[@OfMiceAndMegabytes]

Wow! The Greeks even had sci-fi??? I'll definitely be looking more into this😊

[@gm683]

You can search for "True histories"/"A true story" by Lucian, a greek author born in 120 AD so not that ancient. He wrote about traveling to the moon, extraterrestrials and interplanetary warfare.

[@victorxu1903]

I love Greek mythology, nice work!

[@wastelesslearning1245]

Kewei Xu Here ye! Here ye! Come marvel at our ancient technology ages ahead of its time! We got steam engines, water clocks, steam rocket birds, geomatic theorems, mechanisms that throw ships, laser ships, napalm ships. We of course don’t just destroy ships: come aboard our luxury liner built for royalty by Archimedes himself. Rumor has it he had to invent new maths just make the thing float with that added luxury. Oh yeah and a popular variation of the alphabet, Latin roots for scientists to pat themselves on the back for using, medical philosophy along with you know... the rest of the other kinds of Philosophy’s. Rest In Peace Antiquity. RIP.

[@wastelesslearning1245]

And that’s just one section of the ancient world. Arabs, Chinese, ect. Had amazing technology as well.

[@viveka2994]

@@wastelesslearning1245 still doesnt compare to the dwemer, they tried to become gods and probably succeeded

[@notevencalm]

@@wastelesslearning1245 not Arabs lmao, Indians had

[@wastelesslearning1245]

@@notevencalm Islamic golden age was quite inspired. "Book of ingenious mechanical devices" and their AC and cooling archtiecture and astrolabes were brilliant.

[@jakecannanite4558]

The interesting part about how Talos in TES used a Bronze Golem to conquer the summerset isles. Whereas the Greek Talos was a brass Automaton that guarded an ilsland

[@ixwstudios]

When he shedded that tear I was done, hit the feels with that one right there

[@fredrik3614]

Hey, you. You're finally awake.

[@MrAxeswinger]

You were trying to cross the border, right?

[@Gala-yp8nx]

Eccentric Misfit “The Empire was nice and lazy until you Stormcloaks showed up. I’d be halfway to Hammerfell by now if it wasn’t for you.”

[@nice3333333333]

@@Gala-yp8nx You there. You and me (kzbin.info/www/bejne/lauznaVjpJKMe7M) - we shouldn't be here. It's these Stormcloaks the Empire wants.

[@cremaglitch]

@@nice3333333333 We're all brothers and sisters in binds now, thief

[@stiffpictures8971]

a normal person Shaddup back there!

[@user_name_not_taken_1856]

I can just imagine ted ed reading the comments like: who are the thalmor??? Whats a white gold condordat???? Who is skyrim???

[@ceej2198]

Talos the mighty, Talos the unerring.

[@stiffpictures8971]

Yeah, but we commenters all thought the same thing

[@meganward2638]

I only made it one minute in before hitting the comments looking for TES5 references. lol

[@otherkamelliabuddy]

ill explain. the Thalmor are from the game series called elder scrolls, which one of the games is Skyrim. in the Elder Scrolls, there was a war agreement called the white gold concordat. basically, the Viking race, the Nords, couldn't worship the god *Talos* or else the Thalmor, a bunch of elves who think they run the world, would destroy them all.

[@Edit-nk6nb]

Probably not confused, it's not like Skyrim was a sleeper hit.

[@Acaciuus]

"It's too late, the Numidium was awake".

[@YasonYou]

Thisssss

[@hamzaferoz6162]

When the Brass Tower Walks and Time is Reshaped

[@gilgameshthetreasurehunter2750]

Come, look upon the Heart and Akulahkhan

[@hamzaferoz6162]

@@gilgameshthetreasurehunter2750 I'm a god how can you kill a god? What a grand and intoxicating Innocence

[@Abdega]

@@hamzaferoz6162 Shame on you sweet Nerevar

[@Treepelt]

Just realized Adrienne Mayor is the narrator! Her work is amazing, love it ❤️

[@mjcastro82]

Adrienne Mayor is the educator. Alexandra Panzer is the narrator according to the credits.

[@ApollyonZKX]

"By Ysmir, you won't leave here alive!" - Some random nord

[@TheCusita93]

Loved this myth, never heard it before! I look forward to this series every week, I can't get enough of these myths.

[@ahnaafnaaeer1882]

Only ted ed knows how to make a myth interesting to learn through awesome animations and immaculate narration and description. Thanks Ted ed!

[@oatsie8727]

I remember reading parts of this in The Talos Principle, a game all about AI. Really interesting to see the parallels

[@flahboi]

With open arms, with cheers and song, with joy in my heart and tears in my eyes! Praise be to Talos, this is a glorious day for Whiterun and for all Skyrim! Our liberators have come at last!

[@anhang8834]

"so you will give me immortality if i remove the bolt?" "well yes, but actually no" "so that's a pinging lie-"

[@fl00fydragon]

They were making basic robots 2500 years ago. Damn, we really did stall human progress during the dark ages.

[@jmfm-r2q]

No we just made progress in other fields

[@fl00fydragon]

@@jmfm-r2q Like what? What did humanity gain from the dark ages?

[@jmfm-r2q]

@@fl00fydragon it was the Islamic golden age for starters and Astrology Ligatures(tying off blood vessels for surgery) Gunpowder Mechanical clocks Architecture Printing press Windmills Seeing glasses Paper money Liquor Compass Greek fire (napalm) Not to mention the hundreds of other inventions

[@fl00fydragon]

@@jmfm-r2q Turns out that archemedes created it and were it not purged we'd be 500-1000 years ahead of today. Basically the ancient world was half a century away, if not less, from a steam revolution when it fell to christianity.

[@jmfm-r2q]

@@fl00fydragon what I'm trying to say is without the dark ages we would still be in ancient times You have to respect how much they made

[@aisadal2521]

Ooh, never knew Mechas originated from Greece!

[@whathell6t]

Twisting Dervole Basically, a Mazinger Z plot.

[@crackedemerald4930]

It's a robot, not a mech

[@whathell6t]

@@crackedemerald4930 Tell that to the Power Rangers (some of the Zords are nonpiloted), Super Sentai (a lot of literal deus ex machina and some will outright kill any human as some much try to lay finger in their robot body), and Tetsujin 28 fans.

[@reading6914]

Johny Marcial you do realize super sentai is the original version of power rangers right?

[@whathell6t]

Incognito Mode Well! Do you actually saw Super Sentai, especially Kyoryu Sentai Zyurangers, the season that got heavily edited to become Mighty Morphin Power Rangers by Saban Pictures?

[@allseeingaids9734]

A hero doesn't use a power like the Voice to *_murder his king and usurp his throne!_*

[@seldomstudios6351]

*laughs in internet*

[@nenakelly742]

Also I think you just super jealous cause you dont have the thu'um

[@pyromike7237]

It was a fair fight General Dickilus

[@manastrivedi3841]

Hey you, you're finally awake

[@popcornin]

Ah Yes, I never knew Mighty Talos was Interested In Dwemer Technology, but I'm still Wondering... how in the Nine did talos turn into a Nord again?

[@alexanderticonuwu7591]

First he was a Breton, then we blinked and he's now a Nord.

[@Queue3612]

im guessing its just the nords viewing him in thier own image, like with the other races, the altmer seeing this HUMAN god doesnt like it and cant intergrate it as it is just to well known that he is human so they tried to suppress his worship

[@samuelwithers2221]

@@Queue3612 Talos has CHIM. He can reshape the land, himself, and all within the Aurbis if he wills it. Under such royalty, history is fluid and fickle.

[@TheAnalatheist]

Numidium moment

[@DarkArtistKaiser]

@@samuelwithers2221 Oh god I never thought of that. That means just about any race could say "Talos was of our race" and they wouldn't be wrong.

[@SmallAlexMoney]

“My ancestors are smiling upon me imperials! can you say the same?”

[@Mike_Ka-Chowski]

"ancient robots were more than just myths" They're more than myths the eye????

[@JoRoBoYo]

The first transformer

[@samuelwithers2221]

*laughs in Cybertronian*

[@GraveUypo]

NO! bad! BAD!

[@David_Punzalan]

This makes me.. I can’t put in words how bad this is.. It’s so bad it’s funny.

[@mr.fishy1252]

But the real question is was it a autobot or decepticon

[@akramgdr9492]

The amount of skyrim references in the comments tho.

[@Aipe97]

The Talos from Elder Scrolls is probably a reference to this Talos, since the Elder Scrolls one used a giant robot to become immortalized as a god.

[@mysteriousmoss]

No Talos killed the snow elves I'm pretty sure there's no "giant robot" in the lore of Talos from elder scrolls V

[@Jordloopin]

@@mysteriousmoss lmao not in TES V but from previous games and in-game books. The giant robot Numidium was a central part of TES II's plot. Also, the snow elves were wiped out way before Talos even came into the picture, it was a guy called Ysgramor who wiped them out.

[@nikolaradovanovic6246]

@@mysteriousmoss In TES III Morrowind you could actually see the giant robot being rebuilt by Dagoth Ur yourself in the final quest. Also Talos used Numidium to conquer Summerset Isles. And Tiber Septim wasnt even born during the eradication of falmer. It was Ysgramor that wiped out most of their population

[@SilverGamingFI]

@@nikolaradovanovic6246 no, in TES 3 the giant robot was the Akulakhan, not the Numidium. In TES 2 you'll see the Numidium if I recall correctly

[@nikolaradovanovic6246]

@@SilverGamingFI yeah, but if I remember correctly, Akulakhan was Voryn's recreation of Numidium. But yeah Numidium was lost in time and space during the siege of Alinor afaik. Sorry if I got something wrong I read the lore a few years ago

[@MrxDerpReal]

I didn't know this classic Mecha series existed, time to binge

[@powersurge05]

Aye, love. Love! Even as man, great Talos cherished us. For he saw in us, in each of us, the future of Skyrim! The future of Tamriel!

[@galleryg998]

I haven’t heard this one before! Thank you for sharing!

[@MDR098]

They say tiber septim himself was a dragonborn

[@ra_alf9467]

In their tongue, he is the dovahlaan DRAGONBOT

[@searinox111]

I'm reporting this to the thalmor

[@dexterboolan6441]

Casio fx-570ES PLUS stop right there You have committed a crime against skyrim and it’s people What see you in your defense?

[@almirante_kiko]

Lol !!!!

[@almirante_kiko]

I was hoping for this

[@Seifereus]

Dexter Boolan I’d rather die!

[@l0remipsum991]

Talos smite you!

[@thepomelo7253]

Something that stuck out to me in this video was the depiction of Hephaestus. I love this image of him as this almost dwarven smith with a big beard, but I think there was a little bit of a missed opportunity in this design. Hephaestus is described as "lame" in Greek myth, sometimes as a result of a birth defect in his leg and sometimes a result of an injury sustained from his fall from Olympus. Certain accounts depict him as walking with a cane or even using a wheeled chair or tripod of his own design for mobility. The dynamic of a god with a disability is really interesting, as it not only gives representation to an often underrepresented group but it shows their capabilities are nothing short of legendary. I'd love to see what you guys can do with Hephaestus' design in a future video, disability and all.

[@MOMOFCJ6]

The Greeks were not thinking about representation

[@Revo5660]

Greeks: *decide to show that disabled people can be just as good at certain things as others* Twitter:

[@tiananguyen2894]

Argonauts: Like Greek avengers Talos: Loki being tortured for having the innocence of a baby

[@willcoldbert3720]

Ted-Ed always has something new for me. Great video, Thanks guys!!

[@hamzaferoz6162]

TALOS THE UNERRING TALOS THE MIGHTY RISE UP CHILDREN OF THE EMPIRE RISE UP STORMCLOAKS

[@stiffpictures8971]

RISE UP!

[@ringwormboy1575]

RISE UP

[@acepilotxhts613]

Long live the Empire!

[@ammarannafi4144]

Rrriiise

[@rathpeter1306]

LET ME SHOW YOU THE POWER OF TALOS!

[@sergiograndio577]

*IM REPORTING THIS VIDEO TO THE THALMOR EMBASSY*

[@hazardeur]

I can worship anyone I want!!!!

[@TheAilmam]

A jojo reference referring to skyrim references

[@FBI-5O]

STOP! YOU VIOLATED THE LAW! PAY THE COURT A FINE OR SERVE YOUR SENTENCE.

[@ElianSchreuder]

fun fact: a video game, arcane odyssey, named a militairy fortress to this robot, "Fort talos". Its also interesting that the boss you fight there is called "General Argos", perhaps its a reference to argonauts?

[@pepethedeplorablefrog2224]

Talos the mighty! Talos the unerring! Talos the unassailable! To you we give praise!!!

[@Kastor774]

Broke: Skyrim references Woke: Talos Principle references Seriously go play it.

[@entropiCCycles]

Or "The Talos Principle"

[@Kastor774]

Damn, got the name wrong sorry

[@thelasttaarakian]

No

[@RampageSinMinas]

I was specting this, just ended road to gehenna

[@tranquoccuong890-its-orge]

choke: Dwarf Fortress reference, as the Bronze Colossi

[@aaaadit5155]

So that’s what Transformers: The Last knight missed Talos was Optimus Prime’s grandfather

[@SnakeRoadComicsOfficial3677]

Talos Prime does have a nice ring to it

[@virgilev1754]

This myth makes "The Greeks created the first Megazord." a surprisingly true sentence.

[@whathell6t]

Dude! You're just describe Go Nagai's Mazinger Z, the first true mecha anime, in a nutshell. Seriously, I am not kidding. Google the summary of Mazinger Z. It's worth it.

[@justinwilliam6534]

It does prove that maybe mechanical marvels like automatons or robot could be given all the emotions and feelings a human can ever experience in a lifetime.

[@AlyssonAugusto]

The Talos Principle is the best game to understand what this history can teach us.

[@kenguyii9108]

Talos: the Greeks’ answer to The Iron Giant.

[@houselemuellan8756]

Bronze is better than iron after all

[@retsaweman]

More like: The Iron Giant: The Americans' answer to Talos

[@emeraldmaster5388]

I’m glad I found this video because I never knew this myth. AND I LOVE ROBOTS, ANCIENT CULTURE, AND STORYS OF GODS.

[@aurelia2690]

Lovely to see the Mary Shelley quote at the start of the video

[@redtsun67]

Alternative Title: Security Guard murdered by trespassers to avoid jail time

[@SpoopyGhost95]

Japan: look at our human like robots Greece: pathetic.

[@jkzac]

The moment I see the title I knew there's going to be a skyrim references in the comment

[@stiffpictures8971]

JK Charlz this is what I came for. I was confused when I saw the name Talos. I was like “wait, TedEd doing Skyrim? Ooooohhhhh....it’s a Greek Myth. Wait, Talos is a Greek Myth?”

[@ederbarrero5585]

So... the Talos bolt instead of the Aquiles ankle? Got it!

[@fabjee99]

Its "Achilles" not "Aquiles"

[@derkaiser420]

One of my favorite myths. Even back then Greeks were studying the minds of machines even though they weren't invented or seen before. Pretty amazing. I fear modern human will create a machine (hopefully on accident) that will be able to feel emotion and think for itself. I pray that doesn't happen.

[@pigoverlord8250]

I just realized something, since he was already immortal, she could’ve just asked for safe passage and not done anything to him, and he’d think he was immortal.

[@dikshantacharya2965]

Talos be like, giant metal bubble full of liquid metal, Hard on the outside but soft on the inside both mental and physical.

[@sethleoric2598]

"TALOS IS DE TRU GEEEWWD" -Heimskr, 2011

[@starcloak]

So this is the iron giant's bronze cousin or what? Another myth from the Greeks that I'd never heard of before this moment. Video was very cute❤️

[@emilymitulski5392]

I like to think Talos gained human sentience from the ichor because of its association with the divine.

[@lawsonjohnson1288]

It finally clicked for me that this myth was what probably inspired GoT’s city of Bravos with the giant man standing guard

[@thenablade858]

Braavos’ statue was influenced by the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, of which only the Pyramids are still standing. Essos is based off Greek and Italian city states, with the Doom of Valyria being a nod to Pompeii.

[@nicodemoarmenise3769]

The vase is in a museum in my hometown! So proud of my little town! It's Ruvo di Puglia for anyone curious and the vase is held in the archeological museum "Jatta"

[@steampoweredmaniac5359]

The High Elves would like to know your location.

[@akumaking1]

Warhammer Elves?

[@steampoweredmaniac5359]

@@akumaking1 I don't even really remember what I was referring to, sure.

[@hyperboreanarchives7299]

@@akumaking1 Elder scrolls, because the name Talos is borrowed by the writers of ES lore & given to a mortal turned God, whom the high elves (Thalmor) later forbade men from worshipping.

[@bornoktritoh3802]

He protecc He attacc but most importantly, *His chest is hot af*

[@tonykhang1984]

that can go both way for some peoples

[@Senai29920]

literally

[@pqbdwmnu]

Ay love, LOVE! even as man great talos cherished us.

[@MarioPreguisoso]

Poor Talos, he just wanted to be one of the Divines

[@jax5498]

Talos: *Is a robot* Also Talos: *Accepts the offer to become immortal* My brain: -10

[@Queue3612]

he wasnt aware he was a robot

[@gabriel300010]

Its the argonauts, the storytelling kind of sucks

[@airillegend6932]

Brain cells

[@jacobsquartzminecart7632]

You forgot about R U S T

[@niapurdue230]

Since Ichor is like God Blood, I wonder how Hespheastus convinced the other gods to give it to him. "Look I know it sounds weird BUT--"

[@LostJanbo]

Imagine one god killing another just for enough ichor to make an army of theese

[@niapurdue230]

That sounds like a book idea that Hollywood would destroy

[@BygoneT]

Probably took it from the Titans down in Tartarus or something. Or, you know, a drop of blood for every child of Zeus would be enough really...

[@pressaltf4forfreevbucks179]

@@BygoneT i am greek and damn that's funny. Being a child of zeus was not even rare.

[@gabriel300010]

@@pressaltf4forfreevbucks179 if a child has no father, then the father is Zeus.

[@dstinnettmusic]

Hello, my friend! If you seek knowledge about mighty Talos, you have most certainly come to the right person. In mortal life, Talos was a Nord possessed of unmatched tactical skill, limitless wisdom and the power to see into men's hearts. Talos mastered the power of the Voice, and with it he united the lands of men into a great Empire. In southern lands, he was known by the name Tiber Septim. Here in Skyrim, we honor him by his proper Nord name. So great was his reign in life, when he ascended to the heavens he was made lord of the Divines. If you want to know more, I'm sure you can find any number of tomes on the subject.

[@rippedmlagirl]

my heart hurt to know that Talos cried as his power waned :'(

[@MythopoeicNavid]

Adrienne Mayor's nonfiction book "Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs: Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World" is terrific reading if you like mythology.

[@Vsaintrowx]

For he saw in us, in each of us, the future of Skyrim! The future of Tamriel!

[@lovrobarbir1273]

I'm just amazed at how profound and ahead of their time Ancient Greeks were

[@razeyy_]

all hail tiber septim! all hail the mighty talos!

[@stiffpictures8971]

r a z u Shhhhhh! The Thalmor might catch us!

[@TomSistermans]

Expecting Heimskr to tell this story

[@AhmedMahmoud-tv9vw]

"RISE UP CHILDREN OF THE EMPIRE FOR TALOS HAS DIED TO BEEE THE GOD OF MAN REEEEEE!" man remembering his voice is so irritating.

[@l0remipsum991]

TALOS THE MIGHTY! TALOS THE UNERRING!

[@brndonlu9635]

I love Ted-ed's design of Talos. Their design are the best

[@magentaplatinum1430]

0:59 guy on ship: Is... Is that the bermuda triangle god??