Johann Hunt
Across myth and archaeology, giants appear as builders, destroyers, and symbols of lost worlds. Some are said to have fought in epic battles; others were probably invented to sell tickets. The truth may be buried, but many of those legends keep discussions alive. This collection of 10 famous giants and their legends traces how they’ve been used to explain complex events and stir controversy (sometimes both).
Fomorians (Ireland)
Epic clashes define the stories of Ireland’s Fomorians, giants described as sea raiders or beings born of the earth. Their way of life preceded Partholon’s settlers, but their rule ended in mythic defeat. That downfall drew clear parallels to the Titans’ loss against the Olympian gods.
Paiute & Lovelock Cave Giants (Nevada, USA)
Ancient duck decoys made from tule reeds rank among the world’s oldest artifacts discovered in Lovelock Cave. The Paiute people tell stories of red-haired Si-Te-Cah dwelling there, though scientific excavations found no evidence of giants. Records also show that those descriptions about giants were added to oral traditions afterward.
Baalbek Megalith Builders (Lebanon)
The Stone of the Pregnant Woman, a behemoth exceeding 1,000 tons, rests partially buried near Baalbek’s ancient complex. Local tales suggest that ancient giant beings transported these massive stones; Historians say the Romans built temples over an existing foundation. The truth remains a historical puzzle.
Susquehannock Tribe (Pennsylvania, USA)
Travelers along the Susquehanna River once met a group unlike any other they had known. It was the Susquehannock tribe that stood taller and stronger than most neighbors. Their towns were also ringed by imposing palisades. If you see John Smith’s 1612 map, the horned figures marking their territory show how people translated their size and strength into mythic imagery.
The White Giants (Native American Stories)
Oral histories preserved by the Comanche and Navajo speak of giants that were not ordinary men. The Comanche described them as inhabitants of an earlier age, while the Navajo recalled them as the cruel, “starnake people.” As for scholars, they interpret these traditions as metaphorical lessons, not evidence of prehistoric giants.
American Giant Skeletons (Appalachia And California)
Burial mounds across Appalachia and California yielded mysterious tales in 19th-century newspapers. These accounts described towering skeletons over 8 feet tall, yet scientific investigation has revealed no authentic specimens. Beyond that, conspiracy theorists continue targeting the Smithsonian Institution with accusations of evidence suppression.
Nephilim (Biblical Tradition)
You may have heard whispers of the Nephilim, figures whose origins remain clouded in scripture. Genesis places them in the time before the flood, while the Book of Enoch calls them humanity’s great corrupters. Were they angelic offspring or mighty kings? The debate has never truly settled.
Gilgamesh (Ancient Mesopotamia)
In Mesopotamian tradition, Gilgamesh ruled not just as a man but as a figure of divine heritage. His friendship with Enkidu, created from clay by the gods, anchors the narrative. Within their epic lies a striking flood story that parallels the one in biblical scripture.
Tehuelche Giants (Patagonia)
Early European explorers believed they had discovered giants at the southern edge of the world. Magellan’s crew described the Tehuelche people as standing twice the height of an average man, though in reality, they were simply taller than most Europeans. Still, the story persisted—retold in journals and etched into maps for centuries.
Hanau ‘E’epe Giants (Easter Island Or Rapa Nui)
Rapa Nui legends speak of the Hanau ’E’epe—a physically larger, powerful group said to have once ruled Easter Island. Some stories link them to the creation or movement of the island’s towering moai statues, over 30 feet tall and weighing about 82 tons. Whether symbolic or ancestral, their legacy looms as large as the monuments themselves.