The Symphalian Birds (or Ornithes Stymphalides) were a flock of man-eating birds that lived around Lake Stymphalis in Arkadia. These birds were created by Stymphalos and Ornis.
Mythology[]
The sixth labour of Herakles was to slay these birds. With the help of the goddess Athena, he used a set of small cymbals (or in some versions Castanets or a rattle) to disrupt the birds. He then shot a great majority of them one-by-one with either his bow and arrow or a sling. The remaining birds flew off never to be heard from again.
Trivia[]
- These birds were closely identified with the Arean Birds.
- Some say that these birds were made out of metal.
- These birds may have been turned into constellations.
- These birds were said to be sacred to Ares.
Gallery[]
Herakles kills the Symphalic Bird (Albrecht Dürer, 1520)
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