Few tales are as well-known as the story of Odysseus and The Cyclops, Polyphemus.
This classic Greek myth tells the story of a clever hero who uses his wits to outsmart a giant, one-eyed monster. Along the way, he also demonstrates the importance of friendship and loyalty. The story makes up one of the 24 books in Homer’s Odyssey. Which, along with the Iliad make up two of the most important and significant of Homers surviving poems. They are some of the oldest surviving works of literature across the whole of history, written around the 8th Century BC.
This particular story tells the tale of Odysseus’ return from the epic Trojan War. A journey that was filled with troubles.
The Story of Odysseus and the Cyclops, Polyphemus
Upon setting sail on his return journey from the Trojan War, things go well for Odysseus at first. There is a prophecy, however, that says the journey will take 10 years. After spotting land, he takes a group of 12 with him to search for food and fresh water sources. They’re amazed to find everything seeming much larger than they’re used too – even the sheep are enormous!
They see a cave in the distance and make their way over: hoping to find the shepherd who owns it. Once arriving, they discover that not only is the cave empty – except for some of the shepherd’s animals and cheeses – but it’s also huge! They slaughter one of the lambs and enjoy a celebratory roast meal inside.
After a time, the shepherd returns to his cave – but he is no ordinary man, he is a giant cyclops!
Who Was The Cyclops In This Story?
Polyphemus, the Cyclops, is Poseidon’s son and a giant with one eye in the center of his forehead. His meals generally include whatever he can find nearby – two of Odysseus’s sailors become his victims in this story.
Once Polyphemus falls asleep, the crew starts to think about killing him; however, Odysseus realizes that even if they kill Polyphemus, they will all die trapped inside the cave since it would be impossible for them move the large rock blocking the entrance by themselves.
Odysseus, recognized for his resourcefulness and slyness, begins to hatch a plan. They need to find someway to make the Cyclops open up the cave.
As morning arrives, the Cyclops savors two more of Odysseus’ crew members as breakfast before he heads out to the pasture; subsequently blocking the cave entrance once again behind him.
The Escape Plan
Odysseus and his remaining crew come up with a plan to blind the Cyclops. In the first part of this plan, Odysseus tells the cyclops that his name is “Nobody”.
They then sharpen a large stick at one end and heat it in the fire until it’s glowing red. When Polyphemus returns that night, they offer him wine as a peace offering. He gets drunk quickly and falls asleep. Odysseus and his crew then shove the hot stick into Polyphemus’s eye.
The Cyclops wakes up in agony, screaming and tearing at his eye. His cries echo through the cave and wake up the other Cyclopes who live on the island. They ask him what’s wrong and he tells them that “Nobody” has hurt him. They tell him to go back to sleep and stop making such a fuss.
In the morning, Odysseus and his crew tie themselves underneath the bellies of the sheep so they can’t be seen.
When the Cyclops lets the sheep out, he feels their backs to make sure they’re all there – and doesn’t notice Odysseus and his crew.
Once they are free Odysseus announces his escape to the cyclops, and that it is he who has tricked him and taken his eye.
Polyphemus complains to his father, Poseidon, about what happened.
As a result, Poseidon vows to take revenge on Odysseus and make his journey home much more difficult.
Significance of the Odysseus vs. Cyclops Story in Homer’s Work
The encounter between Odysseus and the Cyclops Polyphemus is one of the most memorable episodes in this epic journey. It illustrates the hero’s cunning and the theme of intelligence over brute force. This story, found in Book 9 of the Odyssey, serves multiple purposes within Homer’s work.
To begin with, it highlights Odysseus’s wit, resourcefulness, and leadership. His ability to devise a successful escape plan from the Cyclops’s cave demonstrates his intelligence and strategic thinking. Qualities that define his dependable and important presence throughout the “Odyssey.”
The cyclical nature of the challenges Odysseus faces on his journey home from Troy reflects the ancient Greek belief in fate and the gods’ influence over mortal lives. Each adventure including the encounter with Polyphemus, tests Odysseus’s heroism and resilience.
In Ancient Greek Culture
The story teaches the value of intellect over strength and the dangers of pride. Odysseus’s cleverness in overcoming Polyphemus is celebrated, but his subsequent boastfulness serves as a cautionary tale.
The encounter with the Cyclops also represents the Greeks’ curiosity and fear of the unknown. Cyclopes as they are represented in this story, as monstrous others, embody the dangers that lie beyond the familiar world. Reflecting ancient exploratory and maritime adventures into the unknown.
Odysseus’s adventures, including his battle of wits with Polyphemus, helped define Greek cultural identity through the embodiment of the ideal Greek virtues: intelligence, bravery, and piety.
Facts About the Cylops Story
- Unlike other Cyclopes who were craftsmen for the gods, Polyphemus lived a solitary life as a shepherd. Detached from both the divine and civilized worlds.
- By telling Polyphemus his name is “Nobody,” Odysseus not only ensures the Cyclops’s cries for help are ignored but also showcases ancient Greek wordplay and humor.
- The olive wood stake used to blind Polyphemus symbolizes peace and prosperity, turned into a weapon of survival. This reflects the duality of Greek civilization’s achievements and their potential for destruction.
- The Cyclops story underscores the constant presence of the gods in mortal affairs. Athena guiding Odysseus and Poseidon seeking vengeance for his son.
- After being blinded, Polyphemus prays to his father, Poseidon, to curse Odysseus, highlighting the belief in divine retribution.
- The story contributes to the mythological lore of the Cyclopes, portraying them not just as builders of Olympus but also as monstrous beings.
- His declaration of his name to Polyphemus after escaping reflects a complex interplay between anonymity and fame, central to Odysseus’s character development in the Odyssey.
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