The Greek myth of Talos, the first robot

In 2016, Hanson Robotics released a humanoid robot named Sophia. She was designed to mimic human facial expressions and engage in natural conversations. Sophia’s construction involved advanced robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and speech recognition technology. Her face was made of a special material called “Frubber,” which allowed her to display a wide range of facial expressions.

But today, I’m going to talk about a robot that was created in 700 B.C.! Can you believe it? This robotic system or robotic protector or automated machine is mentioned in ancient Greek mythology. Yes, you heard that right—the Greeks, who are famous for their stories of gods and heroes, gave us the tale of Talos, an artificial being who was the guardian of the island of Crete.

Hephaestus, the god of fire, metalworking, and craftsmanship, who often created wondrous objects for the gods, was the creator of Talos. Some scholars suggest that the name “Talos” might be derived from the Greek word tála (τᾶλα), meaning “suffering” or “endurance.” Talos is considered the first artificial intelligence device in history. This robot is addressed as a giant or a monster in history. His height was possibly around 15-30 feet or 4.5-9 meters. This mythical giant created by Hephaestus was not made of flesh and bones but of bronze.

Since Talos was made entirely of bronze, and we all know bronze is a dense metal, his weight was probably massive, depending on his size, possibly several tons. Hence, he was extremely heavy and hard to damage. Talos’s task was to protect Crete from invaders, patrolling the shores of the island. It is believed that Talos patrolled the entire island’s shore three times daily. The island of Crete measures about 160 miles (260 km) in length and 7.5 to 37 miles (12 to 60 km) in width, with a total area of 3,218 square miles (8,336 square km). Yes, he patrolled the entire island three times daily.

Talos was constructed with a single vein, called ichor, through which the blood of the gods flowed, extending from his neck to his ankle, sealed by a simple bronze nail. His design was simple and straightforward, yet his presence was enough to deter enemies. His body made of bronze symbolized strength and durability, and this bronze helped him withstand attacks and protect Crete. Talos is one of the notable characters in Greek history.

The most intriguing part of Talos’s story is not just his existence but how ancient times imagined the connection between this technology and humanity. But what eventually happened to Talos? Talos met his end. According to myth, Talos was destroyed when the sorceress Media and the Argonauts arrived in Crete. There are different versions of the story, but the most known version is where Media used her sorcery to exploit Talos’s only weakness—his single vein sealed with a bronze nail, causing his demise.

Media either enchanted Talos or tricked him into removing the bronze nail that sealed his vein, causing ichor (the divine blood of the gods) to flow out of his body. Without this ichor, which was his life force, Talos collapsed and died. In another version, an Argonaut named Poias shot an arrow at Talos’s weak ankle, striking the same vein that Media exploited in the other version.

So, that’s all for today. From Sci-fi Note, best wishes to all of you. Stay well, keep the environment healthy, and maintain your love for science. Thank you.