A-Z: General definitions: Odysseus and the Cyclops Polyphemus

Definition

Odysseus and his men arrived at the land of the Cyclopes. They found a cave full of good food, but then its owner appeared, the Cyclops Polyphemus. He blocked the entrance with a huge boulder, and ate six of Odysseus' twelve companions. Odysseus told Polyphemus that his name was Nobody. That night, they made the Cyclops drunk and then blinded him with a stake. Polyphemus shouted for help, but as he said that Nobody was killing him, none of his fellow Cyclopes rescued him. Next morning, he rolled the boulder away and the seven survivors clung to the bellies of the sheep as they left the cave. Back on the ship, Odysseus jeered at Polyphemus, and the Greeks only just escaped an attack from him. Even more seriously, Odysseus shouted out his real name, so the Cyclops was able to tell his father Poseidon who it was who had blinded him. As a result, Poseidon kept Odysseus away from his home for many more years.
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