Ephialtes

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Ephialtes is introduced as the second giant encountered by Dante and Virgil in the pit of the giants, at the edge of the ninth circle. He is described as fiercer and larger than the first, Nimrod; he is bound by chains that prevent him from moving his arms. He does not utter a word: to the discourse of the two pilgrims he reacts only by shaking himself, in a tremor that manifests a wrath or a wounded pride. The note at verse 84 explicitly identifies him with the giant alluded to in the following verses, and verse 94 names him as the one who «made the great trials», that is, the attempts to scale the heavens. His sin is pride, common to all the classical giants, punished by Jove on the fields of Phlegra with thunderbolts; for this reason he is chained in the ice, unlike Antaeus, born later and not a participant in the revolt, who remains free and is able to speak.