Druon Antigoon

Druon Antigoon or Druon Antigonus is a Flemish folkloric character. He was a mythical giant who lived in Antwerp.^[1]

The statue of the Brabo throwing the severed hand of Antigoon — The Brabo fountain, in Antwerp. Brabo throws the severed hand of Antigoon into the Scheldt. Sculpture by Jef Lambeaux (in 1887)

Guarding a bridge on the river Scheldt, he exacted a toll from those crossing the river. For those who refused, he severed one of their hands and threw it into the river. Eventually, Antigoon was slain by a young Roman soldier named Brabo, who cut off the giant's own hand and flung it into the river.

According to folklore, and as celebrated by the statue in front of the town hall, this legend is the origin of the name Antwerp: Antwerpen, from Dutch hand werpen—akin to Old English hand and wearpan (= to throw), that has changed to today's warp.^[2]

It is alleged that the modern day 'Antwerp Hands', chocolates shaped like severed hands sold in Antwerp', are a reference to this legend and not due to the atrocities committed by the Belgian colonialism in the Congo^[3]

References

^ "Druon Antigonus". Encyclopaedia Britannica.
^ Brabo Antwerpen 1 (centrum) / Antwerpen (in Dutch)
^ Yugie, Jayden. "The Violent History of Belgium Black Hand Chocolate". Medium. Retrieved 30 September 2022.

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[1] "Druon Antigonus". Encyclopaedia Britannica.

[2] Brabo Antwerpen 1 (centrum) / Antwerpen (in Dutch)

[3] Yugie, Jayden. "The Violent History of Belgium Black Hand Chocolate". Medium. Retrieved 30 September 2022.

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