One-Eyed Giant Polyphemus – Most Famous Of The Cyclops In Greek Mythology
Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - Polyphemus, whose name means "abounding in songs and legends," was a famous one-eyed giant in Greek mythology. He was the son of god Poseidon and Thoosa and the most famous of the Cyclops.
Cyclops were an ancient race of giants with a single eye in the center of their forehead. They were described as builders, blacksmiths, and craftsmen.
Polyphemus is an intriguing but horrible creature mentioned in Homer's Odyssey, probably composed near the end of the 8th Century B.C.
The classical Greek poem describes the Greek hero Odysseus (or Ulysses, as he was known in Roman myths) and his long journey home to Ithaca following the fall of Troy.
Odysseus traveled to distant countries for ten years and encountered remarkable people and creatures. His journey took him through the Ionian Islands and the Peloponnese and as far away as Egypt, North Africa, and the western Mediterranean, as the displeased sea-god Poseidon prevented him from reaching his home.
In Homer’s epic, we learn how Odysseus encountered the one-eyed Polyphemus on his return from Troy. The Greek hero and his men came across a cave and decided to enter it. Inside the cave, they ate and rested until they finally fell asleep.
Amphora painting of Odysseus and his men blinding Polyphemus (Eleusis museum) Credit: Wikipedia
When Polyphemus returned to his cave, he found the intruders and became furious. Odysseus and his friends could not escape because the giant had rolled a huge stone against the mouth of the cave to close the entrance. The furious Cyclops grabbed two of the men and ate them. The next morning, the giant left the cave to graze his sheep. When the giant returned in the evening, he ate two more of the captive men.
Odysseus offered Polyphemus some strong and undiluted wine given to him earlier on his journey. Before passing out, the giant asked Odysseus’ name and was told the Greek hero’s name was “Nobody.”
As Polyphemus was sleeping, the Greek hero took a wooden stake in the fire and drove it into the giant’s eye, making him blind. Polyphemus screamed for help, and the other Cyclops on the island came running. They asked him who had done this to him, and the giant replied, “Nobody.” Hearing this, the other Cyclops all returned home laughing. They thought Polyphemus was afflicted by divine power and recommended prayer as the answer.
In the morning, the blind Cyclops let the sheep out to graze. With his hand, he checked their backs to ensure the men were not escaping. However, Odysseus and his men had tied themselves to the undersides of the animals and managed to get away.
The Blinding of Polyphemus - Pellegrino Tibaldi (1527-1596)
When Odysseus was on his ship, he boastfully revealed his real name. This turned out to be unwise because the one-eyed giant Polyphemus prayed to his father, the sea-god Poseidon, asking for revenge. Poseidon was angry about what had happened to his son. He persecuted Poseidon and persecuted Odysseus at sea, throwing huge rocks toward the ship, which Odysseus barely escaped.
The story of Polyphemus became a favorite of classical poets and sculptors, inspiring a play by Euripides (“The Cyclops”) and appearing in the Aeneid of Virgil.
Ovid also popularized it in his Metamorphoses, but the story has a different ending. Ovid wrote that Polyphemus and Galatea married, and from their offspring were born several “savage” races, including the Celts, the Gauls, and the Illyrians.
Ancient myths and legends about mysterious one-eyes people are not uncommon. For example, Greek records mention the Arimaspians, a tribe of normal human-sized horsemen with only one eye in the middle of their forehead.
Updated on July 27, 2022
Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesMore From Ancient Pages
-
Shining Ones, Archimedes Death Ray And Mystery Of Vitrified Forts In Scotland
Ancient Technology | May 13, 2015
-
What Ancient Civilization Discovered Metallurgy?
Ancient Technology | Sep 19, 2017
-
Caligula’s Stunning 2,000-Year-Old Sapphire Ring Tells Of A Dramatic Love Story
Artifacts | Jul 10, 2020
-
Treasure Coins Dated To 15th And 16th Century Unearthed In Historical Region Of Slovakia
Archaeology | Apr 17, 2019
-
Amrita: Potion Of Immortality Consumed By Gods To Make Them Strong And Immortal
Featured Stories | Apr 5, 2019
-
Rare 2nd Temple-Era Etchings Of Menorah And Cross Discovered In The Judean Hills
Archaeology | Jan 8, 2017
-
Indigenous People In Oconee Valley Remained In Southeastern US For Nearly 150 Years
Archaeology | Jul 15, 2020
-
Biblical Events Confirmed: The Jerusalem’s Wall That Nehemiah Built
Biblical Mysteries | Mar 19, 2014
-
Ostrich Eggshell Beads Were Social Currency For People Who Lived 33,000 Years Ago
Archaeology | Mar 12, 2020
-
Enigmatic Bronze Age Fulacht Fiadh: ‘Kitchens’ Of The Legendary Irish Warriors
Civilizations | Nov 26, 2018
-
Archaic Temple (Part Of God Poseidon’s Sanctuary) At The Kleidi-Samikon Site In Greece – Unearthed
Archaeology | Jan 12, 2023
-
Ancient Maya Nose Ornament Made Of Human Bone Discovered In Palenque
Archaeology | Sep 24, 2023
-
Mystery Of Feodor Kuzmich – Did Tsar Alexander I Fake His Death?
Featured Stories | Mar 23, 2020
-
Kava – Astonishing Ancient Plant That Improves Emotional Intelligence Is Gaining Popularity In The Western World
Featured Stories | Mar 31, 2018
-
Thousand-Year-Old Farming Techniques And Irrigation Systems Can Be Used To Mitigate Climate Change
Archaeology | Mar 7, 2018
-
Ancient Bayanihan Tradition Of The Filipino People: Villagers Move Your Entire House Including Walls And Roof
Ancient Traditions And Customs | Sep 6, 2018
-
Secret Ancient Knowledge Of Portals Leading To Unknown Realms -The Arrival And Departure – Part 1
Featured Stories | Dec 1, 2021
-
Pharaoh Ay – A Man With A Hidden Agenda Or A Victim Of Unfortunate Circumstances?
Featured Stories | Feb 5, 2019
-
Assyrian King Ashurbanipal’s Great Library With Thousands Of Cuneiform Tablets
Civilizations | Dec 9, 2015
-
Votive Plaque Dedicated To Dudu High Priest Of God Ningirsu
Artifacts | Jan 16, 2017