Was Talos, the Bronze Automaton Protecting Crete in Greek Mythology, an Early Form of Artificial Intelligence?

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The mythical sentry was depicted as thinking like a human and showing some human-like tendencies

Sofia Giannuzzi

April 22, 2025 9:00 a.m.

In 1950, British mathematician Alan Turing posed a thought-provoking question in his essay “Computing Machinery and Intelligence”: “May not machines carry out something which ought to be described as thinking but which is very different from what a man does?” This inquiry led to the development of the “Turing Test,” which assesses a machine’s ability to exhibit intelligent behavior equivalent to, or indistinguishable from, that of a human.

Often regarded as a pioneer of artificial intelligence, Turing was not the first to envision machines with human-like intelligence. Mary Shelley’s renowned 1818 novel Frankenstein explores the moral dilemmas associated with the creation of life, while Karel Čapek’s 1921 play R.U.R, which introduced the term “robot,” presented humanoid beings that rise against their creators.

However, these modern narratives precede ancient Greek mythology by over 2,000 years. As noted by Adrienne Mayor, a classicist at Stanford University, in her 2018 book Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines and Ancient Dreams of Technology, concepts of creating artificial life and the ethical issues regarding this pursuit were prevalent in Greek myths, well before the mechanical advancements of later centuries.

The Greek myth of Talos, the first robot

One enduring narrative focuses on Talos, a bronze sentinel crafted by the god Hephaestus. Tasked with safeguarding the island of Crete, Talos was known for his fierce defense, hurling boulders at any ships that threatened King Minos‘ realm.

In the Argonautica, an epic poem penned by Apollonius of Rhodes in the third century B.C.E., Talos confronts the heroes Jason and the Argonauts upon their arrival in Crete. As Medea, Jason’s companion, chants incantations invoking spirits of death, she manipulates Talos into injuring himself at his only vulnerable point—a bolt on his ankle, which renders him defenseless.

The battle between Medea and Talos, as depicted in the poem, illustrates the archetypal clash between hero and the divine obstacle—an adversary forged through godly intervention. Similar to the tale of Galatea, a statue brought to life by Aphrodite, Talos exemplifies the intersection of technology and mythology.

However, unlike Galatea, Talos was not merely brought to life by magical means. He was ingeniously engineered by Hephaestus through a process that might resemble today’s concept of biotechne, suggesting a blend of life and craft.

Designed in such a way that he exhibited behaviors akin to machinery, Talos represents one of the earliest interpretations of what could be referred to as a modern-day robot. According to Mayor, “Talos has all the criteria of a robot: he can move independently, interact with his surroundings, and possesses an internal mechanism and energy source.”

Talos’ engineering and symbolism

The detailed description of Talos in the Argonautica elaborates on the mechanics of his construction, specifically his internal system. Described as having a blood-red vein beneath his bronze skin, this “vein” was a conduit for ichor, the divine fluid flowing in the veins of gods. This mechanism effectively served as a source of power, similar to electricity, driving his movements and actions, while any disruption could lead to malfunction.

Different interpretations arise about the essence of Talos. Historian Sublime Dreams of Living Machines: The Automaton in the European Imagination, Minsoo Kang, views Talos as a “living creature” rather than a mere machine, arguing that he embodies more than just mechanical attributes.

Mayor counters this by emphasizing Talos’s unique design. “What living being possesses a metallic form with a nonblood circulatory system sealed with a bolt?” she argues. In her perspective, Talos epitomizes a hybrid of organic and mechanical, akin to contemporary notions of cyborgs, allowing ancient societies to ponder the nature of intelligence and autonomy within artificially created beings.

Talos straddles the line between being an automaton and a robot. Scholar Gregory Nagy highlights that the term “automaton” derives from roots meaning ‘self-mind,’ indicating a being that operates with some degree of sentience.

Instances of similar automatons in Greek mythology are plentiful. For instance, Hephaestus crafted self-moving golden tripods in Homer’s Iliad, and inventor Daedalus is noted for creating animated statues that could function independently. Nevertheless, Talos stands apart as the first created to interact with humanity directly, raising complex questions about the nature of intelligence and emotion.

Despite his original programming as a guardian, remnants of humanity seep into Talos’s character through narratives indicating possible emotions or traits akin to humans. Medea’s manipulation of Talos draws attention to these nuances; she employs hypnotism and persuasion, tools typically reserved for human interaction, showcasing his seemingly developed awareness and emotions.

Mayor remarks on the unintended outcomes of Talos’s design, “The makers didn’t anticipate that Talos could harbor desires and make decisions on his own.” The wording surrounding his mechanical system also conveys a sense of life, as the term “vein” suggests blood-like qualities rather than mechanical tubes.

Comparative analysis with Pandora

In parallel, Pandora, another artifact of Hephaestus’s creativity, was crafted to serve specific human-related purposes but lacked the adaptive qualities seen in Talos. Unlike Talos, who evolves through interaction, Pandora follows a singular directive—her very creation intended as a conduit for calamity against humanity. This contrast illustrates differing implications of artificial beings—Talos as a more sentient figure, while Pandora resembles a strictly programmed entity.

Both Talos and Pandora serve as mediums for humans to engage with the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, long before contemporary discussions arose. Mayor alludes to ongoing debates about vulnerabilities within advanced creations, indicating that flaws are a universal truth in any design, a notion that finds resonance in today’s considerations of artificial intelligence and machine ethics.

Talos embodies a fascinating blend of myth and inquiry into the nature of life, intelligence, and effective decision-making. His existence and the narratives surrounding him prompt reflections on the broader dialogue of human-like machines and their potential impacts on society.

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