In the Greek folklore Talos, the Guardian of Crete, is the first 'bionic' ‘robot-like’ creature on earth...
It is said that Talos was bull-headed and was forged by Hephaestus for King Minos, with the help of the Cyclopes. However, some argue that Talos was given by Zeus to Europa when he carried her off to Crete.
"Talos is said to be created from a petition from Zeus to Hephaestus , to protect Europa from persons who would want to kidnap her."
Talos is a name which, according to ancient descriptions, is related directly to Zeus...On the Greek island of Crete, Zeus was also called Talios, and in the ancient Greek dialect ‘Talos’ was the name of the Sun...
Alternatively Talos could be figured as a sacred bull. His bronze nature suggested that he may have been a survivor from the Age of Bronze, a descendant of the brazen race that sprang from meliae "ash-tree nymphs" according to Argonautica...
Since Talos was a bronze man, his blood was lead, which they believed was a divine fluid (ichor), identical to that what runs in the veins of the gods. Talos' single vein was leading from his neck through his body to one of his heels, which was closed by a bronze nail or a bronze peg or a pin/membrane.
Talos' purpose was to run from his seat in Phaestos around the island three times a day and to throw rocks at any foreign ship coming to Crete without permission. When people from Sardinia tried to invade Crete, Talos made himself glow in the fire and he kept everyone in a fiery embrace with a wild grimace. This led to the term "sardonic grin."
Talos managed to defeat the enemies of Crete for many years, until his time finally came. Of course a bronze “robot” could not be killed by arrows or other weapons, as it was invulnerable, nor could it succumb to old age. Talos was killed by trickery. The legendary ship Argo, bearing Jason, Medea and the Argonauts, had a perilous journey past the Hellespont.
On reaching the south coast of Crete, the Argonauts wanted to beach the ship, rest and obtain supplies. Let’s not forget that they had already been to Colchis, where Jason stole the Golden Fleece with the aid of the witch Medea, the daughter of King Aetes of Colchis.
On leaving, he took with him both the fleece and his beloved Medea. The tale tells that Medea was the niece of Pasiphae, the wife of Minos, i.e. the queen of Minoan Crete, which may be why they chose Crete as a stopping-place on their legendary voyage.
On approaching the shore, however, they were faced with the bronze giant, who hurled rocks at them. The ship was in danger of sinking when Medea took over. She went to the side of the ship and began to talk to Talos. Chanting spells and promising him eternal life, she deceived the guileless Talos and persuaded him to remove the bronze peg from his ankle. All his “blood” ran out onto the ground and he fell lifeless.
There is a second, very similar version, in which Medea looked Talos deep in the eyes and used her magic to drive him mad. As he ran up and down in a frenzy, he struck his vulnerable point, the bronze peg snapped and he fell dead.
Addition in the Suda
The Suda tells that Talos who had been made by Hephaestus, was in possession of the Sardinians, and that when they refused to hand over the brazen man to Minos , Talos leapt into a fire, clasping them to his breast and killing them with their mouths open. From this, the Suda tells, comes the expression "sardonic laugh", which is seen in those who laugh at their own or other's troubles.
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