Culture & Lifestyle • Mythology

Polyphemus

Polyphemus is a figure in Greek mythology best known as the one-eyed Cyclops whom Odysseus encounters in Homer's Odyssey.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Polyphemus is a figure in Greek mythology best known as the one-eyed Cyclops whom Odysseus encounters in Homer's Odyssey. In later tradition, he also appears in stories involving the sea nymph Galatea and the shepherd Acis. He is commonly presented as a son of Poseidon and the nymph Thoosa.

In Homer’s Odyssey

Polyphemus is most famous for the episode in Book 9 of the Odyssey, where Odysseus and his men are imprisoned in his cave. Odysseus escapes by blinding Polyphemus, who then invokes the anger of Poseidon.

Parentage and identity

Later tradition identifies Polyphemus as a son of Poseidon and the nymph Thoosa. He is portrayed as the most famous of the Cyclopes, a race of one-eyed giants.

The Galatea and Acis tradition

Roman and later mythological traditions expand Polyphemus’s story by giving him a role in a love triangle with the sea nymph Galatea and the shepherd Acis. In some versions, he kills Acis out of jealousy.

Cultural significance

Polyphemus became one of the best-known figures in Greek myth through his role in the Odyssey. He is often used as a symbol of brute force, isolation, and the limits of hospitality.

Key facts

Polyphemus first appears in Homer’s Odyssey as a savage, man-eating giant.
He is described in later sources as a Cyclops and the son of Poseidon and Thoosa.
In the Odyssey, he traps Odysseus and his crew in a cave before Odysseus blinds him and escapes.
Later versions of the myth link Polyphemus to Galatea and Acis.
Some sources interpret his name as meaning “many-voiced” or “much spoken of.”

Frequently asked questions

Who is Polyphemus?

Polyphemus is a Cyclops in Greek mythology, best known for imprisoning Odysseus and his crew in the Odyssey.

Was Polyphemus a god?

No. He is a mythological giant or Cyclops, although many traditions describe him as the son of Poseidon and Thoosa.

What happened between Polyphemus and Odysseus?

Polyphemus trapped Odysseus and his men in a cave, ate some of them, and was blinded by Odysseus so that the survivors could escape.

Who were Polyphemus’s parents?

Common later accounts name Poseidon as his father and Thoosa as his mother.

What is Polyphemus’s connection to Galatea?

Later stories, especially in Ovid, portray Polyphemus as enamoured of Galatea and involved in the death of her lover Acis.

What does the name Polyphemus mean?

Sources give different interpretations, including “many-voiced” or “much spoken of.”

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphemus
Supports: Polyphemus first appears as a savage man-eating giant in the Odyssey.
Mythopedia — https://mythopedia.com/topics/polyphemus/
Supports: Parentage, role in the Odyssey, later Galatea tradition, and name interpretation.
Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Polyphemus-Greek-mythology
Supports: Polyphemus as the most famous Cyclops, son of Poseidon and Thoösa, and the Odysseus episode.
Pantheon — https://pantheon.org/articles/p/polyphemus.html
Supports: Odysseus episode, cave imprisonment, blinding, and Poseidon’s wrath.
Theoi Greek Mythology — https://www.theoi.com/Gigante/GigantePolyphemos.html
Supports: Cyclops giant depiction, Poseidon and Thoosa parentage, and Galatea tradition.