POLYPHEMOS (or Polyphemus) was a man-eatingKyklops giant with a single orb-shaped eye set in the middle of his forehead.

He loved the sea nymph Galateia and wooed her with song, but she spurned his advances. When he discovered her in the arms of another, Akis, he crushed the boy beneath a rock.

Odysseus later found himself trapped in the cave of the giant who began devouring his men. The hero plied him with wine and while he slept, pierced his eye with a burning stake. The blinded Kyklops tried to sink Odysseus’ escaping ship with rocks, but failing in the attempt, prayed to his father Poseidon to avenge him