Marble Head of Polyphemus

Illustration

Carole Raddato
by
published on 10 October 2024
Marble Head of Polyphemus Download Full Size Image

A marble head of Polyphemus, perhaps part of a large-scale sculptural ensemble depicting the blinding of Polyphemos, similar to a group found in an imperial dining grotto at Sperlonga, south of Rome. Dated to about 150 BCE or later.

Polyphemus was a one-eyed, man-eating Cyclops giant. In an episode of Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus encounters Polyphemus, gets him drunk on wine, and drives a small sharpened stake into Polyphemus' only eye, blinding him.

Museum Fine Arts, Boston.

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About the Author

Carole Raddato
Carole maintains the popular ancient history photo-blog Following Hadrian, where she travels the ancient world in the footsteps of Emperor Hadrian.

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APA Style

Raddato, C. (2024, October 10). Marble Head of Polyphemus. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19546/marble-head-of-polyphemus/

Chicago Style

Raddato, Carole. "Marble Head of Polyphemus." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified October 10, 2024. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19546/marble-head-of-polyphemus/.

MLA Style

Raddato, Carole. "Marble Head of Polyphemus." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 10 Oct 2024. Web. 22 Nov 2024.

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