Cyclops Polyphemus Vs Odysseus

When it comes to Classical Mythology there are often many different versions of myths, and with each version comes many great differing tales and characters made up by great Greek and Roman poets. A perfect example of these differing tales and characters can be seen with the myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus. The prodigious Archaic Greek poet, Homer, details his account of the Cyclops Polyphemus in his epic poem, Odyssey, while the great Hellenistic poet, Theocritus, describes this tale in the poem, Idyll. Both of these epic poets take this myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus and create plots with partially overlapping ideas, but each poet adds their own different and distinct aspects to the myth. Then the stupendous Roman poet, Ovid, came along and

In Homer’s Odyssey Book 9, Odysseus and his men unknowingly landed on the island of the Cyclopes and begin exploring. They first encounter Polyphemus when they are exploring his cave full of luscious lambs, milk, and cheese. Polyphemus was not bothered by these strangers in his cave at first but this changed very fast when he made supper of two of Odysseus’s men. Odysseus knew he had to take some action in order to get out of this cave alive, so he puts his plan into motion by getting the Cyclops Polyphemus to drink three bowls of very potent wine to get him drunk. After the Cyclops Polyphemus was very drunk, Odysseus told him that his name was Noman, which will help him later on with his plan. Once the Cyclops Polyphemus was sleeping, Odysseus and a select few of his men drove a heated up olive-wood stake into his one large eye, and when other Cyclopes arrived at the commotion Cyclops Polyphemus told them that Noman was killing him. Odysseus then tied his men to the bottom of sheep to allow them to escape the cave. Upon sailing off, Odysseus shouted insults at the Cyclops Polyphemus causing him to hurl large boulders at Odysseus's ship, but he missed. He then prayed to his father, Poseidon, to never allow Odysseus to reach his home on Ithaca or if he is fated to return to have him come late, without his companions, in another’s ship, and to find trouble at

In this version, the Cyclops Polyphemus is in love with Galatea but she is in love with Acis. One day a soothsayer comes along and tells the Cyclops Polyphemus that Ulysses (Odysseus) will blind him, but he replies that is impossible because he is blinded by love for Galatea. Eventually he goes and starts singing a song for Galatea and she listens but is with Acis. The Cyclops Polyphemus continues singing his song, at first complimenting her and then degrading her, and then he caught sight of Acis in her arms. In anger at seeing Galatea with Acis, he throws a huge rock at Acis, killing him. This description of what happened in Ovid’s version is and perfect and complex combination of both the versions of Homer and