Greek mythology is a traditional culture that started back 2,700 years ago, and is prevalent to this day due to its exciting and colorful tales. Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Aphrodite, and Athena are just some of the main characters of Greek mythology. A hundred more of them are waiting for their stories to be known to you as well, and one of them is Polyphemus. You might ask, how was Polyphemus birthed, and who is the father of Polyphemus? Let’s find out today!
Who is Polyphemus?
Curious about the name Polyphemus? Our main character is a one-eyed giant. His kind is better known as Cyclops (other spellings: kyklopes, kuklopes), which means “round eyes.” In Greek mythology, these cyclops are regarded as man-eating monsters, as they are strong, large in size. Plus they eat mortals that are uninvited to their territory.
Since they are fearsome monsters with impressive strength, you will find them in Greek mythology. Helping Zeus defeat the Titans that prevented Odysseus from coming home. Besides Polyphemus, other Cyclops you might know are Brontes, Steropes, and Arges.
Going back, the name “Polyphemus” is defined as “abounding in songs and legends.” Many portray him as a symbolization of all the hardships that humans face, especially since the tales describe him as something terrifying, ugly, big, and every monstrous word you can find.
He is featured in Odysseus’ story of returning home, as he is the same giant that the former encountered in the cave. Odysseus was trapped in Polyphemus’ giant cave. He escaped by making the Cyclop drunk using sweet wine and blinding Polyphemus with the help of his remaining crew that the giant on their shipwreck did not eat. Odysseus’ then crawled with the sheep out to the cave as Polyphemus groped around, trying to find his way.
The only thing this giant Cyclops could do as Odysseus tricked him was to complain to his father. And, who is the father he was complaining to?
Who Is the Father of Polyphemus?
Polyphemus was the son of Poseidon, one of the Twelve Olympians of ancient Greeks. He was also the god of rivers and seas, floods and storms, and earthquakes. As the bringer of destruction, his cult title is “earth shaker.”
You might think, how could Poseidon, one of the most prominent gods in the Greek mythology, ever produce a being that brought fear to most? It is customary in Greek mythology for the gods and goddesses to have different consorts, which was how one of his children became a Cyclop. Some of Poseidon’s famous consorts are Amphitrite (offspring: Triton), Aphrodite (Herophile), and Demeter (Despoine).
As we realize who Polyphemus’ father was, let us dive in to see how he was birthed.
Who are Polyphemus’ Parents?
Polyphemus was an offspring of Poseidon and Thoosa. While Poseidon was the famous god of the sea, Thoosa was a sea nymph. Like Poseidon, she was also a powerful minor goddess in Greek mythology. Thoosa was the goddess of swiftness, most associated with the swift sea currents. Both Poseidon and Thoosa were gods and goddesses that ruled the bodies of water.
She was also the daughter of Phorcys, and some versions pronounce Ceto as her mother. Some of her siblings that are also part of the Greek mythology are Scylla, Echidna Ladon, the Gorgons (Medusa, Euryale, and Stheno), and the Graeae (Enyo, Deino, and Pemphredo)
Thoosa was pictured as a woman with mermaid-like features. One with a serpentine-colored tail that resembled one of a fish in place of her missing human legs.
Poseidon loved Thoosa. Polyphemus came to life after Poseidon, the god of the sea, had an affair with the sea nymph.
As Thoosa was only a minor goddess, she was only briefly mentioned in Greek mythology: and that as her place as Poseidon’s affair. Her only reported consort was Poseidon, and her only child was Polyphemus, the Cyclop.
Who Is the Father of Polyphemus? Final Note
Polyphemus was the love child of sea-associated god and goddess, Poseidon and Thoosa. The Cyclop acted like any other of his kind: ferocious and protective of his land. He was most known as the giant in the story of Odysseus’ way back home. But we should not forget a poem made by Ovid, dedicated to Polyphemus’ unusual way of love style. He fell in love with Galatea, who already had a lover whom Polyphemus killed out of jealousy.
Greek mythology is a tale full of surprises. How would you know that the god of the sea, Poseidon, had an offspring in the form of a Cyclop? Polyphemus is a being that is not popular in our current times. And we are more than happy to provide information about this one-eyed giant!
Did you know that even if Polyphemus is a fearful being, he is capable of love? One subject that proves this is Galatea, a Sicilan Nereid and sea nymph whom Polyphemus loved according to Ovid in the poems book, Metamorphoses. The name Galatea comes from the Greek word “she who is milk-white.” Their romance was not the best though, as it is a one-sided love. Galatea loved a shepherd named Acis, whom was crushed to death by a boulder from Polyphemus’ doing. It can be seen that the theme of Polyphemus’ rage is the same from Odysseus to Galatea. Both have the same reactions featuring a boulder.