Myth Image
Fragment of Argive Bowl, From Argos. Mid 7th century B.C. Blinding of Polyphemus: 11cm, Museum Argos.
Scouting party led by Odysseus and his friend Misenus, lands in the territory of the Cyclops and ventures upon a large cave. They enter the cave and proceed to feast on the livestock such as sheep they find there. Unknown to them, the cave is the dwelling of Polyphemus, a one-eyed giant who soon returns. Polyphemus refuses hospitality to his uninvited guests and traps them in the cave by blocking the entrance with a boulder that could not be moved by mortal men. He then proceeds to eat a pair of the men each day, but Odysseus devises a cunning plan for escape.
To make Polyphemus unwary, Odysseus gives him a bowl of strong, unwatered wine that was given to them by Maron, the priest of Apollo. When Polyphemus asks for his name, Odysseus tells him that it is Οὔτις (Outis, "Nobody", which is also a short form of his own name. It is probable that Odysseus does this to exploit a loophole in the laws of hospitality, which Polyphemus openly violates). In appreciation for the wine, Polyphemus offers to return the favour by eating him last. Once the giant falls asleep, Odysseus and his men turn a pine into a giant spear, which they had previously prepared while Polyphemus was out of the cave shepherding his flocks, and blind Polyphemus. Hearing Polyphemus' cries, other Cyclopes come to his cave and ask what is wrong. Polyphemus replies "Οὖτίς με κτείνει δόλῳ οὐδὲ βίηφιν." ("Nobody is killing me either by treachery or brute violence!"). The other Cyclopes leave him alone, thinking that his outbursts must be madness or the gods' doing.
In the morning, Polyphemus rolls back the boulder to let the sheep out to graze. Now blind, Polyphemus cannot see the men, but feels the tops of his sheep to make sure the men are not riding them, and spreads his arm at the entrance of the cave. Odysseus and his men escape, however, having tied themselves to the undersides of three sheep each. Once Odysseus and his men are out, they load the sheep on board their ship and set sail.
As Odysseus and his men are sailing away, he reveals his true identity to Polyphemus. Enraged, Polyphemus tries to hit the ship with boulders, but because he is blind, he misses (although the rocks get close to the ship). When the ship appears to be getting away at last, Polyphemus raises his arms to his father, Poseidon, and asks him to not allow Odysseus to go back home to Ithaca, and if he does, he must arrive back alone, his crew dead and in a stranger's ship.
Fragment of Argive Bowl, From Argos. Mid 7th century B.C. Blinding of Polyphemus: 11cm, Museum Argos.
Scouting party led by Odysseus and his friend Misenus, lands in the territory of the Cyclops and ventures upon a large cave. They enter the cave and proceed to feast on the livestock such as sheep they find there. Unknown to them, the cave is the dwelling of Polyphemus, a one-eyed giant who soon returns. Polyphemus refuses hospitality to his uninvited guests and traps them in the cave by blocking the entrance with a boulder that could not be moved by mortal men. He then proceeds to eat a pair of the men each day, but Odysseus devises a cunning plan for escape.
To make Polyphemus unwary, Odysseus gives him a bowl of strong, unwatered wine that was given to them by Maron, the priest of Apollo. When Polyphemus asks for his name, Odysseus tells him that it is Οὔτις (Outis, "Nobody", which is also a short form of his own name. It is probable that Odysseus does this to exploit a loophole in the laws of hospitality, which Polyphemus openly violates). In appreciation for the wine, Polyphemus offers to return the favour by eating him last. Once the giant falls asleep, Odysseus and his men turn a pine into a giant spear, which they had previously prepared while Polyphemus was out of the cave shepherding his flocks, and blind Polyphemus. Hearing Polyphemus' cries, other Cyclopes come to his cave and ask what is wrong. Polyphemus replies "Οὖτίς με κτείνει δόλῳ οὐδὲ βίηφιν." ("Nobody is killing me either by treachery or brute violence!"). The other Cyclopes leave him alone, thinking that his outbursts must be madness or the gods' doing.
In the morning, Polyphemus rolls back the boulder to let the sheep out to graze. Now blind, Polyphemus cannot see the men, but feels the tops of his sheep to make sure the men are not riding them, and spreads his arm at the entrance of the cave. Odysseus and his men escape, however, having tied themselves to the undersides of three sheep each. Once Odysseus and his men are out, they load the sheep on board their ship and set sail.
As Odysseus and his men are sailing away, he reveals his true identity to Polyphemus. Enraged, Polyphemus tries to hit the ship with boulders, but because he is blind, he misses (although the rocks get close to the ship). When the ship appears to be getting away at last, Polyphemus raises his arms to his father, Poseidon, and asks him to not allow Odysseus to go back home to Ithaca, and if he does, he must arrive back alone, his crew dead and in a stranger's ship.