Cyclops


	Cyclops ,in Greek mythology, were monsters with one huge eye in the 
center of their head. These creatures were born to Gaia and Uranus. There were 3
of them; one representing, thunder, another lighting, and the last was the 
lightning bolt. They are named Brontes, Steropes, and Arges. They were also the 
first smiths. They lived in caves and never formed any kind of societies, and 
they were cannibals and had no knowledge of wine. They were mostly occupied by 
their sheep. 
	
	When Cronus came to power he put the Cyclopes in prison. Then Zeus 
released them and fought with him against the titans, as a thanks for Zeus 
releasing them they gave him their lightning, thunder, and lightning bolt power. 
Arges was killed by hermes while he guarded Io for Hera. Apollo killed at least 
one of the Cyclopes to get back at Zeus for killing his son Aesculapius.

	In Homer's the Odyssey, the Cyclopes are mean, man-eating giants. In 
later myths they were helpers for Hephaestus, god of fire. They were also thought 
to have built some of the walls surrounding cities such as Mycene and Tiryns.

	Polyphemus was one of the more aggressive Cyclopes, each day he would 
go outside of his cave, which was covered with a huge stone that only he could 
seem to move. One day Odysseus and 12 of his men were walking back from Troy. 
They had wine to use in trade for a stay at some ones home that they might come 
across. When they came along Polypemus's cave they walked in and found lamb coats 
on the wall and lots of flesh, they began eating the food inside. When Polypemus 
returned from his cave he shoved the huge rock across the door. When he saw the 
strangers he asked who they were. He replied "We are warriors returning from Troy 
and we are under the protection of Zeus ". Polypemus said he didn't care much for 
Zeus and ate 2 of the men and went to sleep. Odysseus stayed up very long trying 
to think of a plan, if he killed the beast he wouldn't be able to get out of the 
cave because of the huge rock.  When Polyphemus awoke, he ate  2 more  men, and  
left to heard sheep. While out Odysseus saw a piece of wood in the corner. He 
spent the rest of the day sharpening the wood. When Polyphemus came back he 
shoved the stick into the beasts eye. Now blinded, when Polyphemus went to take 
out his rams, the people would strap themselves on the underside of the ram, 
because Polyphemus would feel the tops for the soldiers, but not the bottoms, 
when he would let the sheep out. When they all escaped Odysseus got at a safe 
distance and he started making fun of Polyphemus, The beast got very angry and 
took a chunk out of the mountain and threw it at the ship, the boulder nearly 
missed the ship, but the waves pulled it back inland, just barely being able to
row their boat from coming back on the land they made it away.