Ancient Greek Art: Odysseus & the Cyclops Polyphemus

Polyphemus & Odysseus' escape on the ram | Greek vase, Athenian red figure stamnos

"Polyphemos consumed with hideous pains, felt along the backs of all the rams as they stood still in front of him. The witless giant never found out that men were tied under the fleecy creatures' bellies. Last of them all came my own ram on his way out, burdened both with his own thick wool and with me the schemer." - Homer, Odyssey 9.250

L8.4 ODYSSEUS & POLYPHEMOS

Private Collection: Shelby White and Leon Levy Collection, New York City, USA
Catalogue Number: TBA
Beazley Archive Number: 5343
Ware: Attic Red Figure
Shape: Stamnos
Painter: Attributed to the Siren Painter
Date: ca 490 BC
Period: Early Classical

SUMMARY

Odysseus and Idmoneus (named on the vase) escape from the cave of Polyphemos hanging to the underside of his rams. The blind Kyklops lifts the rock sealing his cave to release the flocks.

ARTICLESPolyphemos