The Odyssey: Part 4 - The Cyclops

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My name's Thomas, and I'll be reading to you tonight, as we return to our wonderful re-telling of the Odyssey.

“If you were here with us last time, perhaps you remember what happened.”

The Odysseus is on the island of the Fiatians. He was helped by the Princess Norseka, and is now the guest of her father, King Alcinoa. Odysseus has just revealed his true identity. And now, he's about to tell the story of his travels. Tonight, that includes tales of the Lotus Eaters, the Cyclops, and the Bag of Winds.

If you're already familiar with the Odyssey, you may be aware that the story of the Cyclops is one of the more violent episodes. Although we've turned it down, leaving out the gory details, please do keep her in mind as you listen.

“This whole series was adapted and written for the show by the excellent Alexander Tarni.”

Alex has been working with us for a number of years already, and has recently come on full time to provide more help with both writing and editing stories for our ever-growing network of shows and episodes.

And I just wanted to give her a shout out and say how proud I am of our amazing team.

In a day and age, when there are a number of shortcuts that can be taken on making content such as ours, we are proud to be maintaining all the love, care and creativity of human-made stories and narrations for you all to enjoy. We know that something many of you will appreciate, so thank you so much for your continued support and listenership, making it possible for us to continue pouring our love and passion into this show and all of our work. We really are so grateful and feel blessed to have this amazing community of listeners.

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So, for more information and to join us tomorrow night, head to GetSleepy.com/support and I'll pop the link in the show notes too. Thanks so much everyone. Okay, my friends. It's time to prepare for our story now. So make yourself as compass can be, and snuggle into the safety and warmth of your bed.

So, let's trip everything back tonight and just focus on the delights that life has to offer.

“Perhaps, none better than the gift of dreamy rest.”

As you close your eyes, bringing your attention to the present moment. Allow your breathing to slow and lengthen.

Feel the rise and fall of your chest and stomach.

And with each release of the breath, enjoy the sensation of melting further into the surface beneath you.

“As you move yourself further into relaxation, just consider some of the things in your life that bring you a sense of calm and delight.”

Those moments or activities that naturally induce a sigh of contentment, or a smile that reflects the pleasure you feel from its simplicity. Maybe it's a steaming heart drink held in your hands as you settle into a comfy chair at home. Perhaps it's the feeling of arriving home and slipping off your shoes after a long day. Maybe it's an episode of your favorite TV show, or reading another chapter of a good book.

“It could be the company of loved ones, or the special friendship with your pet.”

A walk in the sunshine, or a walk in the rain. As you consider this, I'm sure you'll find that there are so many simple moments that bring you contentment and pleasure. And perhaps this will even be a reminder for you to focus on them more often. Now I invite you to enjoy the pleasure and contentment of the hair and now. So, let's pick back up where we left off last time in the great hall in the Palace of King Arsinois.

This is where our story begins. Every one in the hall, the king included, was looking at Odysseus expectantly. Now that they knew who he was, they were eager to hear his story. Odysseus took a sip of water. And then, choosing his words carefully, he began.

First, he told them a little about his life before the Trojan War.

He was the son of Leirteus, and he came from an island named Ithaca, a rough rugged land. But to Odysseus, it was the most beautiful place in the world.

Of course, everyone knew all about that, so where to begin.

“Perhaps with the women who had held him captive, the goddess Calipso, and then sassy, the enchantress.”

Or maybe he should start with the story of the sirens, or his visit to the land of the dead. So much had happened. But in the end, Odysseus decided to tell his story in order.

He would start at the beginning with his departure from Troy.

After the Greek victory at Troy, Odysseus's bad luck began almost immediately.

“He and his men sailed to the island of Soconis, and attempted to raid the town.”

But with the help of their neighbours, the Soconis fought back, and the Greeks were quickly overpowered. Odysseus and the other survivors sailed away, relieved to have escaped, but grieving the lives that had been lost.

However, this was just the start of their troubles.

Zeus, the cloud gatherer, summoned up a terrible storm. The Greek ships were rocked by violent winds, and it seemed as though the entire sea was cloaked in fog.

“So the men took shelter by the shore, waiting until the winds had calmed.”

After three days, the ship sails were unfound once more. Odysseus and his men sailed onwards, travelling swiftly across calm blue waters. For a moment, home seemed to be almost with him reach. But then, out of nowhere, a blast of wind blew the ship off course. Over the following days, they were swept across the sea at the mercy of the winds.

Until, at last, they landed on a remote island. Odysseus ordered his men to search for food and water, until look for any signs of life. But when the scouts didn't return, Odysseus went to look for them himself. He found the men in a forest clearing, resting on the ground. They were in a strange drowsy state, not quite asleep, nor awake.

When Odysseus managed to rouse the man, they told him what they had discovered. The island was inhabited by the lotus eaters. These people were kind and welcoming, and had shared some of their delicious fruit with Odysseus's man. It was the most wonderful thing they had ever tasted. And now, the man had no desire to return home.

They were quite content to stay here, eating sweet lotus fruit for the rest of their lives.

On his orders, they all left the island immediately, before the others could succumb to the temptations of the lotus fruit.

But as they sailed away, the men's hearts were heavy.

“Those who had eaten the lotus would never forget it, while the others longed for a taste of the fruit.”

In all those years at Troy, whilst that war, pleasures had been few and far between.

After leaving the land of the lotus eaters, Odysseus and his men sailed on until they reached a pair of small islands.

It was night when the ships approached, a dark, moonless night. Both islands were shrouded in fog, and there was no way to tell whether or not they were inhabited. But one of the islands was easy to access, as it had a natural harbour.

“Seeing that it was safe to drop anchor there, Odysseus ordered his men to sail towards the shore.”

They would spend the night there, and explore the next morning.

Once the ships were in the harbour, bobbing gently on the calm water, the men settled down in their beds. It wasn't long before they drifted off, some still dreaming of the lotus. When dawn arrived, pink and radiant, Odysseus and his men got dressed and disembarked.

“As they began to explore the island, they were amazed by what they saw.”

A place of great beauty that could easily be transformed into a thriving colony. It had everything, easy access to the sea, and natural resources in abundance. And yet, the island seemed to be completely uninhabited. Wondering the maddos by the shore, the only living creatures they glimpsed were goats. And when they ventured up into the hills, again, all they saw were goats and more goats.

Odysseus and his men were hungry, but they ate well that day, enjoying a dinner of goat meat and red wine. They still had plenty to drink, as they had stocked up in the town of the Socones. Food, however, was harder to come by, and they were grateful for the meal. The hunting had been easy, so easy that it seemed the goats were on their side. As the men sat on the beach, eating and drinking to their hearts content,

they looked across to the other island. It was so close they could have almost swam there, and now that they were paying attention, they noticed something. The distant bleets of sheep and goats, and a whisp of smoke rising into the air.

At this point Odysseus interrupted his story and told his audience what he had learned later.

“The second island was in fact a famous place, the land of the cyclopies.”

The cyclopies were one-eyed giants. They were known for being lawless, uncivilized creatures. There was a basic existence. They didn't have ships, and they didn't plant crops.

Even though everything flourished in the fertile earth.

The cyclopies were shepherds, looking after their sheep and goats, and sleeping in mounting caves.

“However, when Odysseus first caught sight of the smoke on the island, it known nothing of this.”

Odysseus was reluctant to send a scout to investigate. He would take his time and come up with another approach.

That night the men slept on the beach, lulled into sweet dreams by the rhythmic sweep of the tide.

Brightened early the following morning, Odysseus called a meeting. He announced that he would lead an expedition to the other island.

“Together with a group of men, he would sail the short distance across the water,”

and find out what kind of people lived on that island. So Odysseus and his men set off in their ship, gliding across the gentel-lapping waves. They soon found themselves on the shore of the other island, looking up in wonder. On the hill above the beach was an enormous cave, judging by the sounds emanating from the cave. It was home to several heads of sheep and goats.

Standing nearby was a man, or rather a giant. He towered into the air like a pine tree, or a mountain peak. But it wasn't just his height that was remarkable. When the giant turned around Odysseus saw that he had just one eye. A huge staring eye, right in the centre of his face.

That was when Odysseus realised where he was, the land of the cyclopies. It seemed that this giant lived alone, with only his sheep and goats for company. But even just one cyclops was a force to be reckoned with. So Odysseus had to plan his approach carefully. He told some of his men to stay behind, and guard the ship.

Meanwhile, Odysseus and 12 others would go to visit the cyclops. Bringing with them a goat's skin full of sweet wine.

It was rather strong stuff.

“So Odysseus filled up the goat's skin and packed some other provisions for the journey.”

Then he began to make his way up hell. His men following close behind. By the time they reached a cave, the cyclops was nowhere to be seen.

He must have been out in the pastures with some of his heart.

Odysseus and his men entered the cave and looked around.

“It was a peculiar place, half house, half barn.”

The cave was piled high with boxes of cheese. And in one corner there was a pen full of bleeding lamps.

But there was also some furniture and some beautifully made bones.

And towards the back was an enormous bed. One big enough for a giant. Odysseus' men were keen to take some cheese and maybe some lamps too.

“And then make a quick retreat back to the ship.”

But Odysseus wanted to meet the cyclops. He hoped that the giant would welcome them, and perhaps give them some gifts. So after helping themselves to some cheese, the men sat down and waited for the cyclops to return. It was evening when the giant came back to the cave, along with his sheep and goats. Up close, he was quite aside.

His head nearly touched the ceiling, and in his big muscular arms he carried what seemed to be a forest's worth of firewood. As the cyclops stepped into the cave and let the wood go cluttering to the ground. Odysseus and his men began to feel afraid. They hid among the straw and boxes of cheese and watched as the cyclops went about his tasks. After sealing the cave entrance with a heavy boulder, the cyclops tended to his sheep and goats, milking them one by one.

Once he had finished, he prepared a fire in the middle of the cave. It was then in the light of the flames, at he caught sight of the men. In a great booming voice, the cyclops spoke. He demanded to know who the men were, and what they were doing in his cave. Despite his fear, Odysseus stepped forward.

He told the truth, explaining that they were Greeks on their way home from Troy. The winds had swept them off course, and they had found themselves here. Now, they could only hope that the cyclops would show them kindness and hospitality. Zeus, the greatest of gods, wanted those far from home to be taken care of.

He did as he wanted, and he didn't take kindly to visitors, especially those who stole.

“Clearly, the men had been helping themselves to his cheese.”

They were lucky that the cyclops wasn't hungry yet. Tomorrow, he would make a meal of the men. He might turn them into a stew, or perhaps eat them home, washed down with some milk.

But that could wait for tomorrow.

Right now, the cyclops was tired after his long day outdoors.

“Once he stretched out in his huge bed, he quickly fell asleep.”

But for Odysseus and his men, it was to be a long sleepless night. They whispered among themselves, discussing the cyclops's threats and a possible plan of action.

Odysseus's first idea was to take out his sword and kill the cyclops while he slept.

But if the cyclops died, it would spell their doom too. The entrance to the cave was blocked by that heavy boulder.

“Even with the combined strength of all the men, it would be impossible to move.”

They would have to think of something else and soon. That dawn, the cyclops awake, is one huge eye blinking open. To the men's relief, he ignored them. He was focused on his chores, lighting the fire and tending to his animals. Then, the cyclops left the cave, along with his hearts. Once he was outside, he rolled the heavy boulder across the entrance, leaving Odysseus and his men trapped inside.

The men were anxious, but determined to escape, and they trusted Odysseus to come up with a plan. While the cyclops was out, Odysseus ordered his men to take a large piece of wood and carve it into a weapon. Then, there was nothing to do, but sit and wait. By the time the cyclops returned, it was evening. The wooden stake was hidden away, and the men were ready and waiting.

But once again, the cyclops ignored him. After rolling the boulder into place, he began his usual routine of milking the sheep and goats. But once he had finished, the men became nervous. The cyclops would probably now be hungry after another day out in the pastures. The threat he had made the night before weighed heavily on their minds. Fortunately, Odysseus knew just what to do. He stepped forward boldly, and offered the cyclops a cup of wine from the goat skin he had brought with him.

It was like nectar, the drink of the gods.

As soon as he had finished, he demanded more, and then more still. The wine was strong, and quickly went to his head. The cyclops began to swese slightly. His one eye flickering as if he might fall asleep. It was then that Odysseus said,

“"Syclops, you wanted to know my name. I will tell you, but then you must give me a gift, like a good host does.”

My name is Nobody.

The cyclops replied, "I'll eat the other men first, and nobody lost, as that were a gift."

And then the cyclops fell back onto the floor, and began snoring. Now that he was deep in a drunken sleep, it was time to strike. Working together to lift the heavy stake, Odysseus and his men attacked.

“In one swift movement, the cyclops was blinded.”

In that out a great roar, so loud that all the others heard,

the other cyclopies who lived nearby. Some of them rushed to the cave, and gathered by the entrance. "Ponofemus," they said, "for that was the drunken's name. What's the matter? Are you hurt?" Insider to the cave, "Ponofemus replied, "Friends, nobody is hurting me.

“If nobody is hurting you, the others replied. Then why all this noise?”

Go back to bed and let us sleep in peace." Odysseus heard the heavy footsteps of the giants, as they went away back to their own caves. It wasn't long before Polyphemus fell asleep once more. And at last, the men too were able to get some rest. Early the next morning, Polyphemus went about his usual routine.

Even though he could no longer see, the cyclops melt to the sheep and goats as efficiently as ever. All the while he muttered threats, he would make nobody pay. Once he got his hands on the man, he would eat them one by one. Once the milking was done, Polyphemus pushed back the boulder and let out the animals. But as they left the cave, he ran his hands over their backs to make sure that the men weren't somehow hiding among them.

Thinking quickly, Odysseus whispered his plan to the man. They should tie some rams together with a rope, and then climb underneath the animals, and cling onto their stomachs.

So, once the rams were tied together, Odysseus and his men got into position,

“holding on tightly to the animals underbellies.”

And sure enough, as the rams passed through the cave entrance, Polyphemus touched their woolly backs, but not to their bellies. He had no idea that the men were sneaking out right in front of him. Once they were a safe distance from the cave, Odysseus and his men untied themselves,

and clambered out from underneath the rams.

Then, taking a few sheep with them, they hurried down the hill,

“all the way back to the ship, where the others were waiting for them.”

After a joyful reunion, the man began to row back towards the other island. But once they had left sure, Odysseus couldn't resist calling out to the cyclops, it was still visible on the mountain side. Enraged, Polyphemus held a rock in the direction of Odysseus' voice. It plunged into the water, narrowly messing the ship.

The men begged Odysseus to stop, but he was still fired up.

“As the boat rode on, he continued to taunt Polyphemus,”

his voice carried by the wind. Cyclops, if anyone asks what happened to you, tell them that it was Odysseus who took away your sight. Hearing this, Polyphemus became even angrier. So, the prophecy was true.

A tooth saer had once told him that this would happen. But he had expected Odysseus to be a tall, strong man, not some weakling. This man was a trickster, not a hero. As he stood on the side of the mountain, Polyphemus raised his arms towards the heavens, and uttered a prayer to his father, the sea got Poseidon.

He prayed that Odysseus would never return home,

or that if he did, he would find nothing but trouble awaiting him. After this prayer, Polyphemus held another rock towards the ship. But by now, Odysseus and his men had nearly reached the other island, where some of their fellow men had stayed behind. The men were overjoyed to see that Odysseus and his companions had survived their audio.

That evening, they enjoyed a wonderful feast, eating and drinking to their hearts and bellies with full. And then, utterly worn out, they all fell asleep to the sound of the waves. The next day, Odysseus and his men set sail. Favorable winds soon carried him to another island. The island of Odysseus.

He and his family lived in a palace on this windswept rocky island.

“A place so remote that they received few visitors.”

Odysseus was pleased to see Odysseus and invited him to stay for a whole month. At last, the men could rest for a while. During the day, they enjoyed hearty feasts, and at night, they slept deeply in soft beds,

suathed by the continual sea breeze.

Odysseus and Eolas talked often, as the king wanted to know all about Troy, and the Greeks journey home.

“When Odysseus decided that it was time to leave, he asked the king for a favor.”

Odysseus was the keeper of the winds. Perhaps he could help the man to get home quickly. Eolas was happy to oblige. He filled a leather bag with the power of the winds, and tied it tightly with wire. Then he bound the bag to the front of Odysseus's ship.

“As a final parting gift, Eolas summoned her wind of saffers, and sent the men on their way.”

It was a fine morning, and the ships sailed swiftly across the ocean. Egor, to get home, Odysseus did most of the steering, and after days at sea,

Ithaca finally came into sight.

They were so close that they could see a whisper smoke rising on the island. But it was then that Odysseus finally gave into his exhaustion, and fell into a deep sleep. Afterwards, he found out what had happened while he was sleeping. Some of his men, curious about the bag on the front of the ship, decided that it must be full of treasure. Instead of waiting, they wanted to take their share of the silver and gold that they felt was owed to them.

So, one of the men leaned over the side of the ship, and untied the bag. The moment it was opened, all the winds inside flew out, combining into one huge gust. In the whirlwind, the ships were transported back to where they began, all the way back to the island of Eones. For a moment, Odysseus was bewildered. He had been rocked awake by the winds, and now, all of a sudden, he found himself staring at a shoreline,

not Ithaca, as he had hoped, but the steep cliffs of Eonia. A disus felt like weeping, but he resolved to be stoic, and accept his fate. After talking to the men, he tracked up to the citadel at the top of the island, and entered the palace of Eones.

He was quite astonished to see his recently departed guest back again, so soon.

What on earth had happened?

“With a heavy sigh, Odysseus said that it was the fault of his men, and his own need to sleep.”

He explained how the men had opened the bag of winds, blowing them all the way back to the island.

Hopefully, Eones would take pity on his former guests, and send them on their way once again.

But when Odysseus finished speaking, there was silence. The king shook his head, and said that he would not help.

“To have suffered such misfortune, Odysseus must have displeased the gods.”

And in that case, the king knew better than to get involved.

Odysseus and his men would have to travel home on their own, without the help of the winds. When Odysseus returned to the ships to break the news to his men, the mood was rather gloomy to see the least. They had no choice, but to sail slowly on wits, hoping that some other god might take pity on them. Now, Odysseus paused his story.

“All the while the fires had been spellbound. What misfortune, King Alcinois remarked,”

Poor Odysseus and his men had been very unlucky indeed. Odysseus smiled rufly. This was just the beginning. Still, he had survived it all. And for that, he was grateful to the gods. Odysseus closed his eyes, and murmured a few words in prayer. Now, he was ready to continue his story.

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