CyclopsAnderson

//**CYCLOPS**// __**//Origin//**:__ Cyclops appear in both Greek and Roman mythology. According to Hesiod, Brontes, Steropes, and Arges were the inventive blacksmiths of the Olympian gods. They were born to Gaea (Earth), and Uranus (sky). The gave Zeus his thunderbolts. The second generation descended from Poseidon, and the most famous was Polyphemus, showing up in Homer's Odyssey.

**__//Appearance://__**The Cyclopes were giants with one round eye where their eyes should've been, however, sometimes they are shown with two empty eye sockets and one eye in the middle of their forehead. Sometimes they are depicted ogre-like, and other times human-like. They were huge beings, and often ate humans. They led a debauched life full of violence. 

 ** //__Mythological Stories:__// ** __Odysseus and the Cyclops__ Odysseus and his men went into the cave of the Cyclops. When the Cyclopes came back to the cave, they were angry and decided to eat two of Odysseus’s men. Odysseus then thought to get the giant drunk, and then poked his eye out. The giant was therefore blind and mad at Odysseus. He guarded the cave entrance, and blocked it when he left. Odysseus tied his men onto the bottom of sheep's bellies, and hung on to the bottom of one himself. By doing this, the five men that were left were able to get out of the cave in the morning when the sheep were let out. When the Cyclopes realized that they escaped, he threw a large stone at Odysseus’s boat in the water.

media type="youtube" key="nv2d0-dRrHI" width="382" height="315" align="center"

**//__Importance:__//** Early civilization myths said the that cyclopes represented the "evil eye." In Greek mythology, the Cyclopes are said to represent natural forces. However, for common day sake, it is said that the Cyclops probably represented a guild of early bronze-smiths. They had tattoos of rings on their forehead representing the sun. It is also believed that the Cyclops were one-eyed because smiths often cover one eye while working to prevent flames from hitting their eyes.

__//**Modern References:**//__ In X-men, Cyclops Scott is the main character (both in the comic books, and in the movies). There is also the congenital disorder called Cyclopia, although there is not many documented cases. . There have also been many movies featuring cyclops such as "Cyclops," "7th Voyage of Sinbad," and "Dr. Cyclops. There are also many random things in today's society named after the cyclops. There is a cell phone called the Cyclops to due its large camera lens in the front, as well as "Cyclops Lighting," who's products have one bright light such as a flashlight or headlamp. Lastly is the USS Cyclops, the U.S. naval ship that disappeared in 1918. She is now the navy's so called "Greatest mystery of the Sea."

media type="youtube" key="a77pycC78Q0" width="425" height="350" align="center"

__//Sources://__
"The Origin of the Cyclops in Greek Mythology - by Christina Pomoni - Helium." //Helium - Where Knowledge Rules//. Web. 06 Jan. 2012. < __http://www.helium.com/items/1180970-the-origin-of-the-cyclops-in-greek-mythology__ >. "Cyclopes." //Encyclopedia Mythica: Mythology, Folklore, and Religion.// Web. 06 Jan. 2012. < __http://www.pantheon.org/articles/c/cyclopes.html__ > "Cyclops." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 06 Jan. 2012. < __http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclops__ > "Cyclops." //Ancient / Classical History - Ancient Greece & Rome & Classics Research Guide//. Web. 06 Jan. 2012. < __http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/cgodsandgoddesses/g/Cyclops.htm__ >. "Cyclopia." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 06 Jan. 2012. < __http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclopia__ >.