CHAPTER VII.
ANOMALIES OF STATURE, SIZE, AND DEVELOPMENT.
Giants .-- The fables of mythology contain accounts of horrible monsters, terrible in ferocity, whose mission was the destruction of the life of the individuals unfortunate enough to come into their domains.

The ogres known as the Cyclops, and the fierce anthropophages, called Lestrygons, of Sicily, who were neighbors of the Cyclops, are pictured in detail in the "Odyssey" of Homer.

Nearly all the nations of the earth have their fairy tales or superstitions of monstrous beings inhabiting some forest, mountain, or cave; and pages have been written in the heroic poems of all languages describing battles between these monsters and men with superhuman courage, in which the giant finally succumbs.
The word giant is derived indirectly from the old English word "geant," which in its turn came from the French of the conquering Normans.

It is of Greek derivation, "gigas", or the Latin, "gigas." The Hebrew parallel is "nophel," or plural, "nephilim." Ancient Giants .-- We are told in the Bible a that the bedstead of Og, King of Basham, was 9 cubits long, which in English measure is 16 1/2 feet.

Goliath of Gath, who was slain by David, stood 6 cubits and a span tall--about 11 feet.