I cannot help thinking, that Otus and Ephiâltes, those gigantic youths, so celebrated by the Poets, were two lofty towers. They were building to Alohim, called [[264]]Aloëus; but were probably overthrown by an earthquake. They are spoken of by Pindar as the sons of Iphimedeia; and are supposed to have been slain by Apollo in the island Naxos.
[[265]]Εν δε Ναξῳ
Φαντι θανειν λιπαρᾳ Ιφιμεδειας παιδας
Ωτον, και σε, τολμαεις Εφιαλτα αναξ.
They are also mentioned by Homer, who styles them γηγενεις, or earthborn: and his description is equally fine.
[[266]]Και ῥ' ετεκεν δυο παιδε, μινυνθαδιω δε γενεσθην,
Ωτον τ' αντιθεον, τηλεκλειτον τ' Εφιαλτην·
Ὁυς δη μηκιστους θρεψε ζειδωρος αρουρα,
Και πολυ καλλιστους μετα γε κλυτον Ωριωνα.
Εννεωροι γαρ τοι γε, και εννεαπηχεες ησαν