In Greek mythology, Talos was the giant bronze guardian of Crete.
Talos was a huge bronze automaton who patrolled the coastline of Crete and protected the island from invaders. Ancient sources describe him as circling the island three times each day and throwing stones at approaching ships. His exact origin varies: some traditions say Hephaestus made him, while others describe him as a gift from Zeus to Europa.
Talos had a single vein running from his neck to his ankle, sealed by a bronze nail or plug. During the Argonauts’ return voyage, Medea or the hero Poeas was credited in different versions with causing his death by removing or damaging this seal.
Talos is notable as an early mythological image of an artificial or mechanical being. He should not be confused with Argus Panoptes, the many-eyed watchman, or with Argos, Odysseus’s dog. The name also appears in later modern fiction with different meanings.