Polyphemus

Next they came to the land of the Cyclopes, a breed of terrifying giants each with a single, vast eye in the center of its forehead. Odysseus and some of his men went ashore and came upon an inviting cave where they found young goats and cheeses. They lit a fire, killed some of the goats, and settled down to feast, little realizing that the animals belonged to a Cyclops named Polyphemus, son of Poseidon.

Using the wine of Maro, Odysseus tricked the brute into a drunken stupor. Polyphemus asked Odysseus his name, and he replied ‘Nobody.’ After Polyphemus fell asleep, Odysseus and his men seized their chance. They sharpened a long wooden stake, heated it in the fire, and rammed it into the monster’s single eye. The blinded Polyphemus shrieked in pain and fear yelling ‘Nobody is killing me.’ So the other Cyclopes ignored him. When Polyphemus rolled back the stone to let his flock out, Odysseus and his men escaped by tying themselves under the bellies of the sheep. The monster ran his hand over their backs but did not notice the Greeks clinging underneath.