Silvius Brabo is a legendary Roman soldier celebrated in Flemish folklore for his heroic defeat of the giant Antigoon, a tyrant who terrorized the Schelde River near Antwerp. Renowned for his cunning, bravery, and strategic mind, Silvius Brabo is remembered as the liberator of the Schelde and a foundational figure in the mythological origins of Antwerp.
According to legend, Silvius Brabo arrived in Antwerp during a time of great despair. The giant Antigoon had established dominion over the Schelde River, demanding exorbitant tolls from merchants and sailors who sought passage. Those who could not pay were met with brutal punishment—Antigoon would sever their hands and cast them into the river. The city’s economy was crippled, and its people lived in fear under the shadow of Antigoon’s reign.
Silvius Brabo, trained in the discipline of Rome’s legions, saw Antigoon not as an immortal threat but as a challenge to be overcome. Using his military training and strategic acumen, Brabo laid a trap for the giant. In a climactic battle, Brabo crippled Antigoon, severing his hand and hurling it into the Schelde River. This act symbolized the liberation of Antwerp and ended the giant’s tyranny.
Silvius Brabo’s actions became a defining moment in Antwerp’s mythology. The tale is said to explain the origin of the city’s name, derived from the Dutch words “hand werpen” (to throw a hand). His triumph over Antigoon is immortalized in a statue in Antwerp’s Grote Markt, where Brabo is depicted holding the severed hand aloft in victory.
Brabo’s story also inspired the city’s coat of arms, which prominently features a hand as a symbol of freedom and justice. The severed hand motif remains a key part of Antwerp’s identity, appearing in both its heraldry and its cultural traditions.