Cyclops
The word Cyclops means round eye. The Cyclopes were born of Gaia, creator of the earth and her husband Uranus. They were imprisoned by their father into the underworld, who feared their strength.
Cyclopes are usually shown as having one, round eye in place of where their two eyes should be, although sometimes they are depicted as having two empty eye sockets and an eye in the middle of their forehead. Sometimes they are depicted very ogre like,like other times depicted almost human.
The Cyclopes were known for their great strength, and also their ability of craftsmanship. They created Zeus' lightning bolts, in return for freeing them, while he was fighting the Titans. They also forged Poseidon's trident. They were also known for going around eating humans. They worked as Hephaestus helpers under the volcano Etna making Zeus's lightnings, but were killed by Apollo as a revenge for Zeus's killing his son Aclepius.
One of Poseidon's sons, Polyphemus, was a cyclops. Polyphemus plays an important part in the Odyssey, as one of the monsters that besets Odysseus and his crew on their way back to Ithaca.
In Homer's epic, Odysseus lands on the island of the Cyclops (Sicily) during his journey home from the Trojan War and, together with some of his men, enters a cave filled with provisions. When the giant Polyphemus returns home with his flocks, he blocks the entrance with a great stone and, scoffing at the usual custom of hospitality, eats two of the men. Next morning, the giant kills and eats two more and leaves the cave to graze his sheep.
After the giant returns in the evening and eats two more of the men, Odysseus offers Polyphemus some strong and undiluted wine given to him earlier on his journey. Drunk and unwary, the giant asks Odysseus his name, promising him a guest-gift if he answers. Odysseus tells him "Οὖτις", which means "no one" and Polyphemus promises to eat this "Nobody" last of all. With that, he falls into a drunken sleep.
Odysseus had meanwhile hardened a wooden stake in the fire and now drives it into Polyphemus' eye. When Polyphemus shouts for help from his fellow giants, saying that "Nobody" has hurt him, they think Polyphemus is being afflicted by divine power and recommend prayer as the answer.
In the morning, the blind Cyclops lets the sheep out to graze, feeling their backs to ensure that the men are not escaping. However, Odysseus and his men have tied themselves to the undersides of the animals and so get away.
As he sails off with his men, Odysseus boastfully reveals his real name, an act of hubris that was to cause problems for him later. Polyphemus prays to his father, Poseidon, for revenge and casts huge rocks towards the ship, which Odysseus barely escapes.
Cyclops
The word Cyclops means round eye. The Cyclopes were born of Gaia, creator of the earth and her husband Uranus. They were imprisoned by their father into the underworld, who feared their strength.
Cyclopes are usually shown as having one, round eye in place of where their two eyes should be, although sometimes they are depicted as having two empty eye sockets and an eye in the middle of their forehead. Sometimes they are depicted very ogre like,like other times depicted almost human.
The Cyclopes were known for their great strength, and also their ability of craftsmanship. They created Zeus' lightning bolts, in return for freeing them, while he was fighting the Titans. They also forged Poseidon's trident. They were also known for going around eating humans. They worked as Hephaestus helpers under the volcano Etna making Zeus's lightnings, but were killed by Apollo as a revenge for Zeus's killing his son Aclepius.
One of Poseidon's sons, Polyphemus, was a cyclops. Polyphemus plays an important part in the Odyssey, as one of the monsters that besets Odysseus and his crew on their way back to Ithaca.
In Homer's epic, Odysseus lands on the island of the Cyclops (Sicily) during his journey home from the Trojan War and, together with some of his men, enters a cave filled with provisions. When the giant Polyphemus returns home with his flocks, he blocks the entrance with a great stone and, scoffing at the usual custom of hospitality, eats two of the men. Next morning, the giant kills and eats two more and leaves the cave to graze his sheep.
After the giant returns in the evening and eats two more of the men, Odysseus offers Polyphemus some strong and undiluted wine given to him earlier on his journey. Drunk and unwary, the giant asks Odysseus his name, promising him a guest-gift if he answers. Odysseus tells him "Οὖτις", which means "no one" and Polyphemus promises to eat this "Nobody" last of all. With that, he falls into a drunken sleep.
Odysseus had meanwhile hardened a wooden stake in the fire and now drives it into Polyphemus' eye. When Polyphemus shouts for help from his fellow giants, saying that "Nobody" has hurt him, they think Polyphemus is being afflicted by divine power and recommend prayer as the answer.
In the morning, the blind Cyclops lets the sheep out to graze, feeling their backs to ensure that the men are not escaping. However, Odysseus and his men have tied themselves to the undersides of the animals and so get away.
As he sails off with his men, Odysseus boastfully reveals his real name, an act of hubris that was to cause problems for him later. Polyphemus prays to his father, Poseidon, for revenge and casts huge rocks towards the ship, which Odysseus barely escapes.