ENCELADUS ~ THE GREEK GIANT WHO CAUSES EARTHQUAKES

In Greek Religion, Enceladus ( Greek: Εγκέλαδος ) is one of the Giants, the children of Gaia (Earth), and Uranus (Sky). Enceladus is the most well-known opponent of Goddess Athena during the Gigantomachy, and ended up being buried under Mount Etna in Sicily.( for more on the Gigantomachy, click here.  Goddess Athena hurled the massive rock which was to become Sicily on Enceladus,as he was fleeing away from Her. Forever trapped underneath, Enceladus still demonstrates his powers everytime he tries to shake off the burden of the rock on top of him. Thus, he is the cause of earthquakes in the entire Mediterranean area.

In literature, references to this Giant occur as early as the plays of the fifth century BCE Greek tragedian Euripides. Although traditionally opposed by Athena, Virgil and others have Enceladus being struck down by Zeus. 

 The second century CE geographer Pausanias reports that a Tegean statue of Athena was called "Horse Goddess" because according to a local account Athena "drove the chariot and horses against Enceladus".

The battle between Athena and Enceladus was a popular theme in Greek vase paintings, with examples from as early as the middle of the sixth century BCE. We know, from the description given in Euripides' Ion, that the battle was depicted on the late sixth century BCE Temple of Apollo at Delphi.

The east pediment of the Old Temple of Athena on the Acropolis of Athens, dating from the late sixth century, prominently displayed Athena standing over a fallen giant, possibly Enceladus. The battle was probably also depicted on the new peplos (robe) presented to Athena on the Acropolis of Athens as part of the Panathenaic festival.

Edited from : Wikipedia