Greek Mythology: Cyclopes
Greek Mythology
Monday, 9 June 2014
Cyclopes
  1: Cyclopes:- In Greek mythology, Cyclopes  were three brothers -Arges, Brontes, and  Steropes. They were son of Uranus (sky) and Gaea (earth), and brothers  of Titans and the Hecatonchires. Cyclopes were described as a giant with a  single eye in the middle of their forehead.  
    
                           Uranus was aghast at  the sight of his offspring (Cyclopes and  Hecatonchires) so he locked  them in Tartarus . According to other version, Gaea hid Cyclopes and  Hecatonchires within herself in Tartarus, to protect them from her  husband. Cronus , the youngest son of Uranus and Gaea freed the Cyclopes  along with the Hecatonchires, after he overthrown Uranus. Cronus feared the Cyclopes power, so placed them back in Tartarus,  where they remained guarded by the female dragon Campe , until freed by Zeus . 
Cyclopes in forges
                           The Thunderbolt, which became Zeus' main weapons, was made by all three Cyclopes, - Arges added brightness, Brontes added thunder, and Steropes added lightning. With the assistance of the Cyclopes and their thunderbolts, Zeus overthrew Cronus and the Titans and became ruler. Zeus was grateful for the Cyclopes' help and allowed them to stay in Olympus as his armorers and helpers to Hephaestus , god of smiths. Cyclopes also created Poseidon 's trident, Artemis ' bow and arrows of moonlight, Apollo 's bow and arrows of sun rays, and Hades ' helmet of darkness.The Greeks also credited them with building the massive fortifications at Tiryns and Mycenae in the Peloponnese.
Apollo killing the Cyclopes
     Zeus struck Asclepius , Apollo 's son, down with a thunderbolt for having risen a person from the dead. Apollo was outraged and killed the Cyclopes who had made the deadly thunderbolt.  For this crime, Apollo was then forced into the servitude of Admetus for one year. The ghosts of Brontes, Steropes, and Arges were said to dwell in Mt.  Aetna, an active volcano that smokes as a result of their burning  forges. 
                             According to some versions,   after the year of Apollo's servitude had passed, Zeus pardoned the Cyclopes and Asclepius from the underworld, despite  them being dead, even though Hades is lord of the dead and they are his  prisoners. Hades as well does not ever allow any of his souls to leave  the underworld but Zeus could not bear the loss of the cyclopes, for  they were the biggest reason the Olympians assumed power. Also Zeus  resurrected Asclepius at the request of Apollo, so that their feud would  end.
2:Cyclopes:- In Greek mythology, Cyclopes were a primitive tribe of one-eyed Giants who lived in caves and herded flocks on the  island of Sicily. Polyphemus, son of Poseidon and the sea nymph Thoosa , was the only notable one,  and the chief of the Cyclopes.