Briareos Hecatonchires

About

Briareos Hecatonchires is a central character in Masamune Shirow's Appleseed series, embodying the fusion of human and machine in a futuristic society. He is a highly advanced cyborg, part of the ESWAT unit alongside his partner Deunan Knute. Briareos's body is nearly entirely artificial, yet he retains a strong sense of humanity. His cybernetic enhancements include eight eyes for enhanced perception and an elastic skin capable of adjusting temperature and sensation. The Hecatonchires system, named after the hundred-armed giants of Greek mythology, allows him to control multiple limbs independently. Briareos's backstory involves being a child used by the KGB and later seeking asylum. After a severe injury, he underwent extensive cybernetic enhancements. He and Deunan are lovers and have been involved since before the Third World War. As a key figure in Appleseed, Briareos represents the intersection of technology and humanity, showcasing the potential and ethical dilemmas of advanced cybernetics in a post-apocalyptic world. His role in the series highlights themes of identity, integration, and the challenges of living in a society where humans and machines coexist.