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1100 -776 BC

From the Geometric Period to the Migration of People in the Region

During this period known as the “Iron Age ” there was a decrease in artistic advancements along with social and economic setbacks due to limited historical documentation available for study. However, these times paved the way for the development of writing and the flourishing arts seen in the Archaic period that followed. Additionally, there was a migration of people towards the Anatolian coast during this era. During this era significant historical moments stood out such as the existence of two poets. Homer and Hesiod. Homer’s work was highly popular at times. Formed the basis of European education as well as influencing customs and philosophical thinking.

Odysseus and the Cyclops

A Battle of Cunning and Courage 

In the Homeric period, tales often revolved around heroes, gods, and extraordinary adventures, exemplified by the story of Odysseus and the Cyclops Polyphemus in Homer’s “Odyssey.” After the Trojan War, Odysseus and his men embarked on a perilous journey home and landed on an island populated by Cyclopes, fierce one-eyed giants. In search of provisions, they entered a cave filled with food and sheep, unwittingly belonging to Polyphemus, who soon returned and trapped them inside, blocking the entrance with a massive stone while devouring them one by one. 

To save his comrades, Odysseus concocted a clever plan, offering Polyphemus strong wine to intoxicate him. When the giant inquired about his name, Odysseus cunningly replied, “Nobody.” As Polyphemus fell into a deep slumber, Odysseus and his men heated a large wooden stake and plunged it into the Cyclops’ single eye, blinding him. In agony, Polyphemus called for help, but when other Cyclopes arrived, he declared that “Nobody” was hurting him, leading them to believe he was unharmed. To escape, Odysseus cleverly tied his men beneath the sheep, allowing them to slip away undetected as Polyphemus let the flock out to graze. 

As they sailed away, Odysseus taunted the blinded giant, revealing his identity. Enraged, Polyphemus hurled massive boulders at their ship and prayed to Poseidon to curse Odysseus, ensuring his journey home would be fraught with even greater challenges, showcasing Odysseus’s cleverness and resourcefulness as a quintessential hero of Greek mythology.

Odysseas in the cave with the cyclops. 1833 illustration

Odysseas in the cave with the cyclops. 1833 illustration

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