Hey, Missians!
It's another Mondo Missy Monday.
And what does that mean?
In the month of May it means it's time for another May Mythical Beast post! Today's mythical creature in question is the Cyclops. Today's info is courtesy of Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclops
The legend of the cyclops originates in Greek mythology. The cyclopes were one-eyed giants, (yes, there was more than one), who were depicted as the sons of and Gaia in some accounts, and as son of Poseidon in others. There was also a third group of Lycian cyclopes who allegedly built the walls of Tiryns and the caverns and labyrinths near Nauplia.
The cyclopes who were the children of Gaia and Uranus were named, Brontes, Steroped, and Arges. They were purported to have been "builders, blacksmiths, metalworkers, and craftsmen" according to Hesiod. The ones who were the sons of Poseidon and Thoosa were described as being shepherds or herdsmen, by Homer. One of the more well known sons of Poseidon and Thoosa was Polyphemus.
Polyphemus was blinded by Odysseus in the following account:
In Homer's epic, Odysseus lands on the island of the Cyclops during his journey home from the Trojan War and, together with some of his men, enters a cave filled with provisions. When the giant Polyphemus returns home with his flocks, he blocks the entrance with a great stone and, scoffing at the usual custom of hospitality, eats two of the men. Next morning, the giant kills and eats two more and leaves the cave to graze his sheep
It's another Mondo Missy Monday.
And what does that mean?
In the month of May it means it's time for another May Mythical Beast post! Today's mythical creature in question is the Cyclops. Today's info is courtesy of Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclops
The cyclopes who were the children of Gaia and Uranus were named, Brontes, Steroped, and Arges. They were purported to have been "builders, blacksmiths, metalworkers, and craftsmen" according to Hesiod. The ones who were the sons of Poseidon and Thoosa were described as being shepherds or herdsmen, by Homer. One of the more well known sons of Poseidon and Thoosa was Polyphemus.
Polyphemus was blinded by Odysseus in the following account:
In Homer's epic, Odysseus lands on the island of the Cyclops during his journey home from the Trojan War and, together with some of his men, enters a cave filled with provisions. When the giant Polyphemus returns home with his flocks, he blocks the entrance with a great stone and, scoffing at the usual custom of hospitality, eats two of the men. Next morning, the giant kills and eats two more and leaves the cave to graze his sheep
After the giant returns in the evening and eats two more of the men, Odysseus offers Polyphemus some strong and undiluted wine given to him earlier on his journey. Drunk and unwary, the giant asks Odysseus his name, promising him a guest-gift if he answers. Odysseus tells him "Οὖτις", which means "nobody"[2] and Polyphemus promises to eat this "Nobody" last of all. With that, he falls into a drunken sleep. Odysseus had meanwhile hardened a wooden stake in the fire and drives it into Polyphemus' eye. When Polyphemus shouts for help from his fellow giants, saying that "Nobody" has hurt him, they think Polyphemus is being afflicted by divine power and recommend prayer as the answer.
In the morning, the blind Cyclops lets the sheep out to graze, feeling their backs to ensure that the men are not escaping. However, Odysseus and his men have tied themselves to the undersides of the animals and so get away. As he sails off with his men, Odysseus boastfully reveals his real name, an act of hubris that was to cause problems for him later. Polyphemus prays to his father, Poseidon, for revenge and casts huge rocks towards the ship, which Odysseus barely escapes.
In "Theogony," Hesiod writes that Zeus releases three cyclopes from Tartarus (the underworld), after they'd been imprisoned there by their own father, Uranus. In return the cyclopes fashioned thunderbolts for Zeus and assisted him in overthrowing Cronus and the other Titans. The cyclopes Arges, Brontes, and Steropes also made Apollo's bow and arrows of sun rays, Hades' helm of darkness that was given to Perseus to help kill Medusa, Poseidon's trident, and Artemis' bow and arrows of moonlight.
Cyclopes Descriptions:
Cyclopes were described as having one eye in the middle of their forehead. Their temperament is said to have been foul and stubborn; and their physical strength was extremely strong. Some accounts go on to further depict them as violent, cannibalistic, and oafish.
Besides Hesiod and Homer, other accounts of cyclopes have been given by Euripides, Theocritus, and Virgil. Check out further their accounts on the Wikipedia page at the link above.
For additional reading on the Cyclops, also check out these sites:
Encyclopedia Britannica
Thought.co:
Greek Gods and Goddesses:
Here's to wishing you guys a wonderful remainder of your week, (and that you don't run into any Cyclopes)!
See you all back here next Monday for our next May Mythical Beast.
This is your host J,
signing off...
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