Born to the god Poseidon and the sea-nymph Thoosa, Polyphemus dwelt on the far-off island of the cyclops with his one-eyed kin. He was a dutiful shepherd and skilled lyrist who once tried, and failed, to seduce the nymph Galatea.
He is perhaps best known for his confrontation with the Ithacan King Odysseus, also called Ulysses, who visited the island of the Cyclops on his way home from Troy. Odysseus and his men ransacked Polyphemus’ food-stores and so Polyphemus trapped them in his cave, planning to devour them all. Cunning Odysseus then tricked Polyphemus, getting him drunk on wine until he passed out before blinding him with a wooden stake to the eye.
Odysseus and his men escaped the island of the cyclops but not without incurring the wrath of Poseidon who decides to continuously blow them off course as revenge for the violence done to his beloved cyclopean son.
Victoria Clough 