Editing Polyphemus (section)

===Ancient sources===
In Homer's epic, [[Odysseus]] lands on the island of the Cyclopes 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, scorning the [[Xenia (Greek)|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.

[[File:Athanodoros, agesandros e polydoros, gruppo del polifemo di sperlonga, ricostruzione 01.jpg|thumb|245px|The blinding of Polyphemus, a reconstruction from the [[Sperlonga sculptures|villa of Tiberius at Sperlonga]], 1st century AD]]

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 [[xenia (Greek)|guest-gift]] if he answers. Odysseus tells him "[[Outis|Οὖτις]]", which means "nobody"<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last = Autenrieth |first = Georg |encyclopedia = A Homeric Dictionary |title = οὔτις, οὔτι |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0073%3Aentry%3Dou%29%2Ftis |access-date=11 March 2020 |language=el | date = 1876 |publisher=Harper & Brothers, Publishers |translator1-last= Keep |translator1-first= Robert P. |location=New York}}</ref><ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0073%3Aentry%3Dou%29%2Ftis οὔτις] and [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0073%3Aentry%3D*ou%29%3Dtis Οὖτις], Georg Autenrieth, ''A Homeric Dictionary'', on Perseus</ref> 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.

The story reappears in later Classical literature. In ''[[Cyclops (play)|Cyclops]]'', the 5th-century BC play by [[Euripides]], a chorus of satyrs offers comic relief from the grisly story of how Polyphemus is punished for his impious behaviour in not respecting the rites of hospitality.{{sfn|Euripides|2020}} In this play, Polyphemus claims to be a [[Pederasty in ancient Greece|pederast]], revealing to Odysseus that he takes more pleasure in boys than in women, and tries to take the [[satyr]] [[Silenus]], whom he kept together with his sons as slaves on [[Mount Etna]] in [[Sicily]], calling him "my [[Ganymede (mythology)|Ganymede]]".{{sfn|Euripides|1994|loc=lines [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Eur.%20Cycl.%20589 580-585]}} The scene is infused with low comedy, specifically from the chorus, and Polyphemus is made to look silly: he is drunk when he explains his sexual desire, Silenus is too old to play the part of the young lover, and he himself will be subjected to penetration—with the wooden spike.{{sfn|Roman|Roman|2010|p=126}}

In his Latin epic, [[Virgil]] describes how [[Aeneas]] observes blind Polyphemus as he leads his flocks down to the sea. They have encountered [[Achaemenides]], who re-tells the story of how Odysseus and his men escaped, leaving him behind. The giant is described as descending to the shore, using a "lopped pine tree" as a walking staff. Once Polyphemus reaches the sea, he washes his oozing, bloody eye socket and groans painfully. Achaemenides is taken aboard Aeneas' vessel and they cast off with Polyphemus in chase. His great roar of frustration brings the rest of the Cyclopes down to the shore as Aeneas draws away in fear.{{sfn|Virgil|2002|loc=[http://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/VirgilAeneidIII.htm lines 588–691]}}