Roman mosaic floor showing one of the mythological cyclops – Polyphemus. Polyphemus was the son of Poseidon (Neptune) and lived in Sicily. In the mosaic, we see the scene of Odysseus giving wine to the Cyclops.
According to Homer in “Odyssey”, it was Odysseus’ way of escaping a cave whose exit was blocked by a large boulder. Odysseus first got the cyclops drunk and then blinded him. Then, wanting to leave the cave, he and his companions tied themselves to the underbelly of the sheep that had managed to leave the cave. The blinded Cyclops merely stroked the animals on their backs, giving Odysseus a chance to escape unnoticed.
The mosaic is located in the famous Roman villa – Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily.
