In ancient Greek mythology, Talos was a bronze giant — the first robot ever mentioned in human history. According to the myth, Hephaestus, the god of fire and technology, forged him with his own hands and gave him to Zeus. Zeus in turn gave him to Europa — or according to other versions to Minos — as a guardian of the island of Crete. Talos was no ordinary guard. He was an unstoppable construct of unrelenting power, destined to patrol constantly, protect ceaselessly, and repel every enemy who dared approach the shores.

The secret of Talos' life was a single vein — the vein of ichor, the blood of the gods, flowing through his bronze body from throat to ankle. This vein was sealed at the ankle by a large bronze nail. This was also his only vulnerable point. When the Argonauts on their journey with Jason approached Crete, Talos repelled them with great force. But the sorceress Medea, knowing the myth, enchanted him with her power. She persuaded him that she would make him immortal. In attempting to remove the nail, the ichor drained away and Talos fell — the invincible guardian of Crete defeated not by force, but by trust in the wrong person.