The Fall of the Giants and Their Fate According to Ancient Texts
Giants were here. In using the term giants, I am referring to persons at least 7 feet (2.1m) and up to 13 feet (4m) in height. Given that pre-modern man was significantly shorter on the average than we are today (many athletes in modern times are 6’5” or taller (2 meters)) these giants would have certainly seemed of extraordinary stature.
That an ancient race or races of giants once existed throughout the world, from China to North America, is a matter attested to not only in the written records of various civilizations but in the archaeological record as well. As Jason Jarrell and Sarah Farmer note, the vast number of gigantic humanoid skeletal remains excavated in the North American region alone makes it statistically highly unlikely for us to interpret all of them as genetic anomalies as mainstream scholars often do.
Giants were here. Yet, this observation leads us immediately to another problematic question: If giants-as a race or races-once existed in antiquity, why do they not exist now? What happened to them? What factors led to their extinction?
The archaeological record largely, though not entirely, fails us in answering these questions. This is particularly evident in the work done on giant civilization(s) in North America. North American archaeologists and anthropologist have done amazing work addressing the unique cultural features of the Hopewell and Adena, pre-Columbian peoples who were either themselves giants or direct descendants of a previous race of giants. At the same time, North American archaeology is at pains to explain the sudden disappearance of both of these civilizations sometime around 500 AD.
In this article, I will propose an alternative anthropological method for determining the fate of the ancient giants. Rather than attempting to interpret the sparse and inconclusive archaeological evidence, I suggest that scholars turn to ancient texts and the mythological/religious traditions they contain. As Erik Von Daniken notes, ancient literature, while highly mythological, often retains fact at its core.
Colossal statue of the giant Appenino. (Picryl / Public Domain)
Furthermore, as Von Daniken also points out, many of the narratives contained in ancient texts are themselves far more literal than modern 21 st century academics give them credit for. When this material is taken into consideration, it suggests that many of the ancient giant civilization(s) were violent and oppressive in their culture and that eventually they were destroyed through their own violent tendencies and actions.
The Description of Giants in Ancient Literature
As Xaviant Haze notes in his recent work Ancient Giants, tales and stories of giants are a universal phenomenon found in nearly every human culture throughout recorded human history. When these various accounts are examined, one common theme emerges, namely that the giants and the civilizations they created were defined by violence and bloodshed. While a comprehensive examination of giants in ancient oral and written traditions is well beyond the scope of this article, it is possible to narrow our focus here to the treatment of giants within a particular culture and their body of literature.
As someone with a background in biblical studies, the ancient Israelites immediately came to mind as the best candidates for such an examination. In contrast to many other ancient Near Eastern societies, the history of ancient Israel is very well documented in both biblical (i.e. the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible) and extra-biblical sources.
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The ‘Book of Giants’ tells the story of pre-diluvian origins of evil and the fate of the Watchers and their giant offspring. (Chauvelin2000 / Public Domain)
One of the earliest references to giants in Israel comes from the Yahwist account of the great deluge found in Genesis chapter 6. (The Yahwist being one of the four authors or sources for the material in the first five books of the Old Testament commonly referred to as the Torah or Pentateuch. The four source theory was popularized in the late 19th century in the work of the famous German biblical scholar Julius Wellhausen.) Here they are linked to the “sons of God” (Hebrew: bene ‘elohim) who forcefully take the “daughters of men” ( banot ‘anashim) as wives.
The Latin translation of the Genesis 6 passage reads:
Gigantes autem erant super terram in diebus illis: postquam enim ingress sunt filii Dei ad filias hominum illaeque genuerunt isti sunt potentes a saeculo viri famosi
But giants were over the earth in those days. For after the sons of God entered into the daughters of men and these (women) gave birth. These are the powerful ones from long ago, the famous men. (Genesis 6:4)
(All translations of Latin or Hebrew texts are mine unless noted as otherwise.)
The Old Testament shares stories about giants taking human women. (JarektUploadBot / Public Domain)
Though the flood account suggests that the giants were exterminated with the rest of the inhabitants of the earth, sans Noah and his family, they appear again much later in the biblical timeline in what scholars refer to as the Deuteronomic history. (In biblical studies, the Deuteronomic history refers to the material from Joshua to 2 Kings in the Old Testament. The history begins with Israel’s entry into the Promised Land and ends with the destruction of the Southern Kingdom, Judah, in 586 BC.)
Within this history is undoubtedly the most famous account of a giant in biblical literature and possibly in Western culture: the (violent) encounter between the Israelite David and the giant Goliath from Gath (1 Samuel 17).
David holding the head of the giant Goliath. (Fæ / Public Domain)
It should be noted that in both the Deuteronomic history and in the earlier Yahwist source, the giants are associated with heightened violence. As the Hebrew term laqach suggests, they forcibly take (i.e. sexually assault) the “daughters of men” leading to the birth of hybrid, super-human offspring which extra-biblical tradition identifies with the Greek gods and heroes. (In the first volume of his Antiquities of the Jews, the 1 st century AD Jewish historian Josephus links the giants of Genesis to Greek demigods such as Hercules.)
In later encounters between the giants and Israel the outcome is always violent leading to warfare and bloodshed between the two groups. It is this particular feature of the giants that yields us insight into what may have happened to them not only in ancient Israel but throughout the world.
The Destruction of the Giants
We are provided with an explicit account regarding the fate of the pre-diluvian giants in extra-biblical literature. In the apocryphal book of Ecclesiasticus, included in the Catholic but not the Protestant canon of the Old Testament, we find the following statement.
Non exoraverunt pro peccatis suis antique gigantes qui destructi sunt confidentes suae virtutis.
The ancient giants, who were destroyed for trusting in their own strength, were not exonerated for their sins. (Ecclesiasticus 16:8)
Two things are suggested in this statement from Ecclesiasticus. First, that the ancient giants had extraordinary might and power. Secondly, their destruction occurred because they relied too heavily on this power.
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In Ecclesiasticus it claims the giants were undone by violence. (Haukurth / Public Domain)
In biblical terminology, to “trust in one’s own might” has both a religious and secular meaning. In the former context, it refers to neglecting (in the view of the biblical authors) the power of God in favor of assuming that one’s own power and strength are sufficient.
In the latter context, it is always used in reference to abuse of power usually through violent, physical oppression. Yet the text does not state whether the giants killed each other off or were destroyed by their victims finally rising up against them.
More insight into the question of the giants and their final fate can be found in turning to the Hebrew text of the Old Testament. In the Yahwist flood account in Genesis 6, the author repeatedly notes that because of the giants the land was filled with violence (Hebrew: hamas). As noted in Strong’s Hebrew dictionary, the term hamas is often used in reference to self-destructive violence meaning acts of physical violence directed not just at others but ultimately towards oneself and one’s dealings with members of their own community.
The Bible hints to the destruction of the giants via the flood. (Mike.lifeguard / Public Domain)
In other words, hamas is a self-consuming, almost suicidal type of violence and its associated with the giants here suggests that even before the actual flood event they were in danger of extermination through killing each other off. One could even conclude, based on the use of hamas in Genesis 6, that the giants were destroyed through some type of civil war.
Such an understanding of the fate of the giants would correspond well with the archaeological evidence and oral traditions around the world dealing with giants particularly in North America. In the mid-Western region of the United States, two pre-Columbian civilizations, the Hopewell and the Adena, seem to have mysteriously and quickly disappeared after what archaeologists infer was a sudden, massive battle between the two groups.
This parallels the type of self-destructive violence that is described in relation to the giants in the Old Testament. On the other hand, traditions exist among various Native American tribes of a violent conflict between their ancestors and ancient races of giants in North America.
For example, the Pauite Indians refer to an ancient race of hostile and violent giants known as the Si-Te-Cah. As in the biblical account, the giants oppressed these ancestors who eventually rose up in revolt against them and exterminated them.
Conclusion on the Fate of the Giants
The literal footprints and remains of civilizations peopled and inhabited by now extinct races of giants are found throughout the world. In this article, I have attempted to provide a possible explanation as to why these giants no longer exists drawing on traditions and narratives preserved in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible.
The biblical texts suggest that the giants were not only violent in nature but were destroyed through this self-consuming violence. This fate for the giants appears to be supported in the archaeological evidence (e.g. the seemingly immediate destruction of the Hopewell and Adena peoples) in addition to various Native American oral traditions. When this evidence is taken into consideration it can perhaps serve as a guide for modern archaeologists and anthropologists who struggle to explain the sudden disappearance of these fascinating, if apparently brutal, gigantic races.
Top image: Is the answer of the downfall of the giants found in ancient texts? Source: grandfailure / Adobe Stock.
Adam Oliver Stokes has written on numerous subjects including biblical studies, classical studies, LDS theology and ancient American civilization, particularly the phenomenon of American ceremonial mounds and giants. His new book, From Egypt to Ohio, is now available from Amazon.
References
Collins, A. and Little, G. 2019. Denisovan Origins: Hybrid Humans, Gobekli Tepe, and the Genesis of the Giants of Ancient America. Bear and Company.
Dewhurst, R. 2014. The Ancient Giants who Ruled America: The Missing Skeletons and the Great Smithsonian Cover-Up. Bear and Company.
Haze, X. 2018. Ancient Giants: History, Myth and the Scientific Evidence from around the World. Bear and Company.
Hill, B. 2015. Lovelock Cave: A Tale of Giants or A Giant Tale of Fiction. [Online] Available at: https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-americas/lovelock-cave-tale-giants-or-giant-tale-fiction-003060
Hopkins, S. 1882. Life Among the Piutes: Their Wrongs and Claims. [Online] Available at: https://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/winnemucca/piutes/piutes.html
Joseph, F. 2009. Advanced Civilizations of Prehistoric America: The Lost Kingdoms of the Adena, Hopewell, Mississippians, and Anasazi. Bear and Company.
Joseph, F., Jarrell, J., and Farmer, S. 2017. “A Giant Problem for Orthodox Scholars,” in The Lost History of Ancient America. New Page Books.
Loud, L. and Harrington, M. 1929. Lovelock Cave. University of California at Berkeley Press.
Myron, R. 1964. Shadow of the Hawk: Saga of the mound builders. Putnam.
Silverberg, R. 1968. Mound Builders of Ancient America: The Archaeology of a Myth. New York Graphic Society.
Strong, J. 2013. Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary with Hebrew script. Better Bible Bureau.
Vieira, J. 2015. Giants on Record: America’s Hidden History, Secrets in the Mounds and the Smithsonian Files. Avalon Rising Publications.
Von Daniken, E. 1973. Gods from Outer Space. Bantam Books.
Wellhausen, J. 2001. Prolegomena zur Geschichte Israels. De Gruyter.
Zimmerman, F. 2015. The Encyclopedia of Ancient Giants in North America. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
Comments
The more fruitful angle is DNA analysis of the bones. I’d guess it’s being done in secret somewhere, probably for the similar illicit purposes that have kept the bones locked away, hidden, CANCELLED, by the cabal of gatekeepers ...of inconvenient truth.
Nobody gets paid to tell the truth.
Hi, Mr. Adam!
I thouroughly enjoyed your writing. I am of the same train of thought regarding the Giants. I am thinking that the San Francisco Giants (once the New York Giants, one of the oldest teams in baseball) were named after ALL the “giants being found in the land”. It was quite the news in the 19th Century here in the USA. Therefore, I think there is something to that.
I really wanted to know your take on the “Book of Mormon – Another Testiment of Jesus Christ” and how it’s ancient prophets, along with modern LDS prophets have said that this book of scriptures was intended for our modern times, and for that purpose. If you read in the end of Alma, and into the next book within it, it is obvious that we are seeing some similarities in today’s modern society; and how societies in this Land typically follow the following pattern: “Rightiousness – Physical Riches – Wickedness – Repentence/Turning to the God of this Land: Jesus Christ – Return to Rightiousness”, and then if you have seen Wayne May’s presentations, and wondered what your professional opinions are on that.
I am also looking to write a book, based on various findings (from this website, too!) that show that the “Cycle of History” is much more robust, than previously thought. I am curious to get your thoughts on this, too.
Please feel free to contact me for a nice discussion on these topics, and thoughts.
Thank you,
Michael
Michael Williamson
Author - Designer - Photographer
GreenTekHaus.com
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Hi Mr. Adam,
I noted your reference to Enoch 3 Book of Giant's which in explicably informs me why The Church removed Enoch from The Scriptures I don't think I've ever seen such a mass case of Jonah's before it's human nature to run from something they can't understand.
Going back to The Book of Giant's however interestingly, God changes those Giant Race beings in to demons and Evil-spirits. God changed them to what they had been originally with their confused angelic heritage to demons.
The Race of Giant's I believe in addition to God removing how we age I think in The Flood He made them smaller. It would explain King Og's height even though His Iron bed was 13 feet in length just how tall did that make King Og?
King Og, King Sihon, Goliath and his 4 brother's these giant's were pardon the pun pygmies. Something tells me these things original height was 3000 ft in ht. After the Flood when they died God then rendered them in to those demons I was telling you about they awakened and were much smaller but to keep the Race of Giant's after the Flood from mingling with regular women the Ancestors of Eve God made certain giantess were available.
God held out totally driving them to extinction so they'd worship the Living God instead they worshipped their parent's so when judgement is rendered against them a third time from God it's to drive them to extinction.
Since reading all The Book's of Enoch I'm starting to understand the world before The Flood and thank God I wasn't in that Time Line.
Goodbye Mr. Stokes.
Hello Mr. Adam,
This is a great article here. I read that you have a degree in Biblical Studies?
I was hoping you might have touched on Enoch, Jubilees, and Jasher.
However it seems a lot of believers and scholars alike are quite skittish of these Specific Bible Book's which is understandable
The material is rather Raw and insightful but, we can not talk about The Giant Race or Hercules ancestors without taking a moment to read and study this subject more.
I myself is guilty of this too I first heard of Enoch at 12 years old. It was a very strong Bible Book I look back now and realize like Jonah I ran from the Truth and I felt that Enoch wasn't in The Bible then God didn't want The Account In There.
Last year I learned that Papal Rome removed Enoch, Jubilees, and Jasher from The Scriptures then discovered that The Protestant Reformation Movement kept up this practice erasing Biblical Texts they didn't agree with.
What I'm getting at is that Enoch, Book of Noah, Jubilees, and Jasher expands on The Genesis of The Race of Giant's so now what I'm thinking is the stories classified as Myths we might need to re-think that idea.
I have read both the Ethiopian and Hebrew testimonies of Enoch. The first telling from Ethiopia Enoch testifies of the how? and why? The circumstances taking place during Enoch's father's time Jared lead up to The Flood basically Earth was unbearable for PEOPLE (I say PEOPLE because that is what Adam in Hebrew means), when reading the Hebrew part of Enoch that is His Goodbye to The People of the Earth for this is when God Takes Enoch so that He won't taste Death.
The New Testament says that Enoch was 7th from Adam.
I am by far and expert where these Bible Book's are concerned I am an fledgling, a Bible Student. What I have notice is that I've both was read to from The Bible and once I learned how to Read for myself then I could read The Bible. If someone is like me then they can definitely follow those 4, Book's....
Enoch
Book of Noah
Jubilees
& Jasher
So where did The Giant Race come from?
The main reason as to why Enoch, Jubilees, and Jasher were thrown out.
From Angel's.
200, of them identified as The Watchers came from The Heaven's to marry Human Women, these Women were the daughter's of Cain.
The narration of Jubilees is told by and Angel on Mt. Sinai with Moses .He does not reveal any names He just calls Them The Watchers in fact all of the Books from Enoch to Jasher refers to them as The Watchers and repeatedly they all number 200.
Unlike Noah, Jubilees and Jasher, Enoch reveals the names of 20 Angels whom I think, I'm not sure... Remember, I am an fledgling with this so I'll use words like I think, I'm thinking, it's possible, It is probable, possibly, and not certain. I think that the 20 out of the 200, were The Captain's and The Lieutenants.
Azazel aka Ningirsu god of war temple dug up in Mesopotamia, modern day Turkey.
Azazel teaches Warfare He Make's the weapons and Armor for The Giant Race to wage War.
Baraquiel it's possible that Baraquiel is in fact Baal I think by way of identification in The Bible often the first name was changed into a Surname The Baals (it's like Smith or O' Brien's).
I think that Baraquiels human wife is Asheroth her Greek name is Hera.
I think that Baraquiels children are...
Baal named after his father Baraquiel
Baalek
Baal-Cheroith
Baal-Peor
Ethl-baal
Probably I can't say for sure Marduk!
The point with Baraquiel Baal was supposed to have been a weather deity that would make him Jupiter/Zeus possibly?
Then the instigator behind The invasion of Earth, Semyaza to marry Human women; taught the Giant's Heaven's Secrets. Enoch doesn't say at least I hadn't read it yet who Smeyaza married Jasher on The Other hand tells who yaza failed to marry so he married someone else but, their name is absent from the Text.
Asael haven't been able to learn who he was married too.
Wife's name not stated.
Urukibel no idea whose he married to but his Geographic territory is in Sumera, and Mesopotamia you've seen Uruk and Ur Land of The Chaldees I also think that Uz was apart of his mini-kingdom Uz is only mentioned in Job for that was the land Job dwelled in. I am aware of the act that Sumeria had numerous deities made known so those gods were probably his wives and children.
2 Ramiels are made known in Enoch. Since what I have come to learn from reading this Text my ideas change rapidly due to things I see anew when going back to Enoch and the other Books for example, I thought that Ares/Mars were twin son's of Azazel they just happened to have 2 distinct personalities.
I'm starting to see Ramiel differently 2 Ramiels of the 200 Watchers now I can see Ares/Mars in the spelling of their name's still I could be wrong and Ares/Mars are Azazels children.
The angel Daniel can't say whose his wife not yet.
The angel Tamiel no clue to the Human wife.
The angel Ezeqiel I know I'll find the name
The angel Ananel family ties can't match it yet.
The angel Amezarak Wives names unknown.
The angel Kokabiel Wives names unknown.
The angel Zaqiel unknown
The angel Turiel unknown
The angel Araziel unknown
The angel Samsiel unknown
The Angel Satal Mr. Adam you'll love this one Satal is Atlas.
As you can see it is a work in progress.
So now I am at a cross roads I have to begin reading more on The World's Myth stories for there lies in the key of finding who was who in The Bible.
Getting back to Hercules and his giant son's that means he'd have to be Baraquiel son or grandson.
Anyway I won't take up anymore of your time on this article. I just wanted to put that out there Enoch, Noah, Jubilees and Jasher. Thank you this truly was a great article.