ODYSSEUS
Odysseus (also known as Ulysses) and his men arrived on the shore of
the eastlands. There he and part of his crew were shut inside a cave by
the cyclops named Polyphemus, who devoured some of his comrades, and
talked with Odysseus, who told the cyclops that his name was "Nobody."
The cyclops promised Odysseus to eat him last as a reward for the wine
he had received from him. However, when the cyclops, being drunk, was
asleep, Odysseus and his men prepared a treetrunk, making it into a
sharp weapon, which they put into the fireplace, and then thrust it
into the cyclops' only eye. Polyphemus in despair cried loud enough to
wake the other cyclopses up. But when they shouted to ask what was
wrong, Polyphemus told them that "Nobody has blinded me", and the
cyclopes, thinking everything was fine, returned to bed. This is how
Odysseus and his comrades could escape the cave of Polyphemus. But
while sailing away Odysseus teased the cyclops and was cursed by him,
who called upon his father Poseidon. And to avenge his son, the god
decided to make Odysseus' journey even harder, by throwing terrible
storms in his way.
The name of Odysseus sends all cyclops fleeing in terror; even crashing
through walls to escape the mere mention of this infamous menance. It
is wise to speak of this infamous hero when encountering any cyclops.