Cyclops, Greece, Greek mythology
Greek Mythology
Zethos
Cyclops
Cyclops were giants of the Greek Mythology with only one eye in their forehead, children of the earth, Gaea   .They ate humans, were thick and had given Zeus the thunder and lightning as   a sign of gratitude when he released them from the underworld. They worked   as Hephaestus helpers under the volcano Etna making Zeus's lightning's, but   were killed by Apollo as a revenge for Zeus's killing his son Aclepius.
The most famous Cyclops was Polyphemus who Odysseus blinded after making him   drunk.
In general, Homer described the Cyclops as wild savages who did not use   agriculture or laws other than each man to himself. This can be seen as an   allegory of the barbarians, the non-Greeks. Other named Cyclops were Brontes,   Steropes and Arges.
After an exciting and agitating        tragedy, it was the Greek custom to calm and sooth the        audience with a cheerful and ironical piece, detignated        satyric drama of which this play is a sample.
The Homeric story of Odysseus and the Cyclops was of        course as familiar as it was popular. Polyphemus enters,        made up as a giant, with one enormous eye, and a "stentorian" voice, whilst his man Silenus and his        companions were probably caricatures of Socrates and        other philosophers.
The Cyclops has been hunting on Mount Etna and calls        lustily for his dinner. Discovering that something        unusual has happened in his absence, he threatens to        beat Silenus, until he rains tears, unless he promptly        explains. Then his eye lights on the strangers, and he        observes bruises and stripes on his servant, who        declares he has been beaten in defence of his master's        goods. On hearing this Polyphemus declares he will eat        the rascals.
In vain Ulysses assures him he has        not touched Silenus, but that he purchased some lambs for        wine, as the lying fellow's nose will vouch, and as the        Chorus, who intervene, assert to be the truth. You lie,        exclaims the giant, I believe this old fellow's story.        For a while, however, he forgets his hunger and insists        upon. Odysseus giving him a full account of him self. He        conceals his name, but tells his adventures and attempts        to appease his host by professing that he and his        companions are all worshippers of Neptune and have built        the god many temples in Greece. A fig for your temples        and gods, replies the monster, the wise worship nothing        except wealth, I have a weather-proof cave for my        flocks, and care as little as they do for Jupiter, in        short, I will not cheat my soul of its delight, or        hesitate in dining upon you.
Odysseus begins to feel that this is the worst dilemma        he was ever in, and recounts some of his previous        escapes. Then the Chorus sing how the giant demolishes        his human prey.
Odysseus returns and relates that he has seen Polyphemus        in his kitchen, piling three wagon loads of Oak on the        hearth, filling an enormous bowl with the milk of his        cows, setting a huge pot on the fire, and heating        several spits after he seized two of the Ithacans,whilst        he, Ulysses, was compelled to minister to the monster.        He left him talking of sharing his wine with some        brother giants and he now comes in, shouting to the        stranger to bring the cask. Silenus, however, persuades        him to enjoy his potations alone, and he so far relents        towards Ulysses as to ask hiss name, and to promise to        eat him last. My name is "Nobody" Odysseus tells him,        and plies him so well with wine that he is soon sound        asleep, when the travellers, seizing the pointed trunk        of an olive tree heated in the fire, thrust it into the        eye of the insensible barbarian, whilst the Chorus sing        an appropriate and encouraging accompaniment to the        operation. Rousing up in pain and fury, the giant        strives to bar the way and catch them as they make their        escape, but he only strikes his head against the rocky        walls, or is misguided by the Chorus, who taunt him that        'Nobody' has blinded him, and therefore no one is to blame.
Odysseus now tells his real name to the baffled monster,        who confesses that an ancient oracle foretold that he        would lose his sight by the hero's hand, but adds that        it predicted also that he should pay the penalty by a        long wandering over the homeless sea.
Of the other plays of Euripides, several contain some        beautiful poetry, and some effective scenes ; but they        were either written for special occasions, or relate        entirely to the politics of the day and, consequently,        none of them are sufficiently national in plot or        allusions to be interesting to a modern general reader.
Greek Gods