Mnemosyne — Classical Greek Myth Library

After Troy Odysseus first raided the Cicones at Ismarus, lost men when he delayed departure, then was driven to the Lotus-eaters, whose honeyed fruit made his scouts forget home until he dragged them back to the ships. Next they beached in the land of the Cyclopes—lawless one-eyed shepherds. Odysseus took twelve men and a skin of strong wine into Polyphemus’s cave. The giant blocked the entrance with a stone, ate two men at once, and refused guest-right. Odysseus gave his name as “Nobody,” drunk the Cyclops on wine, and when Polyphemus slept they heated a stake and blinded him. At dawn the other Cyclopes came at the screams; Polyphemus cried that Nobody was killing him, and they left. Odysseus tied his men under the rams; he clung to the prize ram’s belly and rode out when the blind giant let the flock to pasture. Safe on the ship he taunted Polyphemus and—fatally—shouted his true name. Polyphemus prayed to his father Poseidon that Odysseus might reach home late, alone, and find trouble in his house. That curse shapes the rest of the nostos.