Polyphemus
Domains:
Elder Cyclopes
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Greek Name | Transliteration | Latin Spelling | Translation |
Πολυφημος | Polyphêmos | Polyphemus | Many Words (poly, phêmê) |
POLYPHEMOS (Polyphemus) was a man-eating kyklops (cyclops) giant--a monster with a single, orb-shaped eye in the middle of his forehead. Odysseus encountered him on his return from Troy and became trapped in the giant's cave. To escape the hero plied him with wine and as he slept plunged a burning stake into his eye. The blinded giant tried to prevent Odysseus' flight by tossing boulders at his ship but, failing that, prayed to his father Poseidon to exact revenge.
Polyphemos also loved the nereid-nymph Galateia and wooed her with music and song. She spurned him for the love of the shepherd Akis (Acis), but when the giant spied the pair together he crushed the boy beneath a stone.