http://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/talos-crete-00157

http://www.theoi.com/Gigante/GiganteTalos.html

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=talos+crete+bronze&FORM=HDRSC2

Funny that the real world description of Talos more closely matches Numidium than anything else. A giant metal god. Makes me wonder how exactly Tiber Septim controlled Numidium - Is it a remote control sort of thing, does he only point and say "stomp!" and let Brassy do the rest, or does he pull a Harbinger and assume direct control?

http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Totem_of_Tiber_Septim

The wiki doesn't explain how it controls stuff, but the Totem doesn't look like a joy stick (it actually looks like a weird avocado/egg hybrid) so I guess it establishes a vitamin-rich, high-in-protein-and-saturated-fats psychic connection between the wielder and the golem.

Like the Spider Control Rod but more delicious.

I've imagined it to be sort of like a Titan Princep from Warhammer 40k, using one's mind to bend, dominate, and direct its will. Hence why not anyone can control it.

wasn't there originally supposed to be some kind of ending in Daggerfall where the Agent tried to activate the thing himself but simply gets stomped on?

I never tried to go that route while playing Daggerfall, but i have heard that such an ending did exist..

It was originally meant to be included but was cut, IIRC. But i'm sure it still happened as per the Warp In The West.

But only Hermaeus Mora has record of it happening.