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

took pieces from both of these great works and made his own version of this myth in his narrative poem, Metamorphoses. Together, these three works of mythology offer a more complete idea surrounding the myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus.
Homer and Theocritus both provide specific insights in their distinct versions of the myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus.

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

home. On the other hand, in Theocritus’s Idyll XI, we are presented with a different story of the Cyclops Polyphemus. In this version of the tale the Cyclops Polyphemus shows how he can cure the wound of his unrequited love through a song that expresses his deep and intense love for the sea nymph, Galatea. Although these two versions are about the same myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus, the poets take this tale in two different directions.
When the myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus is presented by Homer and Theocritus, the characteristics provided by each poet makes it seem as if these two myths aren’t about the same topic. But it is quite easy to tell that each version of these myths is about the Cyclops Polyphemus and both take place on the island of Cyclopes because of the intense imagery provided by each poet. The island is described as “well-wooded and populated with innumerable wild goats” (Odyssey 9.115-16) in Homer’s Odyssey Book 9 and the Cyclops Polyphemus says, “I herd one thousand [goats] and draw the finest milk from them to drink.” (Idyll 11.34-5) in Theocritus’s Idyll XI. These lines of imagery visually link together the myths, however each poet takes their own twist on the myth by developing drastically differing characterization of the Cyclops Polyphemus. Homer develops a very hostile, arrogant and rude character, while on the other hand, Theocritus develops a very loving and heartbroken character. Homer’s characterization of the Cyclops Polyphemus was shown immediately when Odysseus is told “You’re dumb, stranger...If you ask me to fear the gods. Cyclops don’t care about Zeus...since we are much stronger.” (Odyssey 9.265-68). This single quote shows all the negative characteristics that are associated with him in Homer’s version. But in Theocritus’s version, the Cyclops Polyphemus is described as a completely different person. This drastic difference in characterization can be seen when he says “I laid eye on you, and ever since then-even now I can’t stop loving one bit.” (Idyll 11.28-29). This major difference in characterization leads to the the immensely different actions that take place in each version of the myth; violent actions in the Odyssey Book 9 and much more peaceful and subtle actions in Idyll XI. Even with these drastically different descriptions of the myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus, Ovid combines elements from both of these works to create another version of the myth in the Metamorphoses.
Ovid creates a third version of this myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus by combining elements from the versions of Homer and Theocritus.

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

Theocritus.
Ovid did the tough task of combining two very different versions of the myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus into his own version that encompasses elements of both the Odyssey Book 9 and Idyll XI. In Ovid’s version of the myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus he foreshadows an event that takes place in Homer’s Odyssey by having a soothsayer come and tell the Cyclops Polyphemus that a man by the name of Ulysses (Odysseus) will blind him. But not only did this event foreshadow the Odyssey but it also includes the love aspect from the Theocritus version by have the Cyclops Polyphemus mention that this blinding is impossible because he is already blinded by his deep love for Galatea. Another element that Ovid takes from the Theocritus version is having the Cyclops Polyphemus express his emotions to Galatea through song. These songs are in fact very similar; in Theocritus’s version the song starts with “O white Galatea” (Idyll 11.24) and then similarly “Galatea, whiter than privet pedals” (Metamorphoses 13.45) in Ovid’s version. Immediately both of these songs include the word white, which after just the first line shows the immense similarity between songs. Ovid sticks with the peaceful characteristics that Theocritus developed in his version until the Cyclops Polyphemus catches a glimpse of Acis with Galatea. Upon sight of this, the hostile, arrogant, and rude Cyclops Polyphemus from the Odyssey immediately surfaces and he murders Acis with a rock. This monstrous outrage by the Cyclops Polyphemus mirrors events that happened in the Odyssey. Not only does he murder Acis just like he murdered members of Odysseus’s crew, but he even throws a rock to murder Acis just like he attempted to murder Odysseus and his remaining crew by hurling rocks at them. These events from peaceful to madness shows how Ovid combines the Theocritus version with the Homer version of the myth the Cyclops Polyphemus in a very innovative way.
The myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus is vastly expanded upon by having multiple poets take their own approach to the myth and each giving more insight on the true characterization of the Cyclops Polyphemus. In comparing and contrasting the different versions of the myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus presented by Homer and Theocritus in the Odyssey and Idyll, respectively, a conflicting characterization arises. The peaceful Cyclops Polyphemus arises in the Theocritus version and a savage version arises in the Homer version, however Ovid combines both of these characteristics in the Metamorphoses. Ovid accomplished the task of a Theocritus influenced first half and a Homer influenced second half that come together to reveal the true monster within the Cyclops Polyphemus. Together, Ovid, Homer, and Theocritus provide a full understanding and complete myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus that will forever stand the test of time and be compared, contrasted, and discussed for years to come.