Cyclopes

Mythical creatures divided into four categories, the heavenly ones, the blacksmiths, the masons, and the shepherds. They were giants with a single eye set in the forehead. The first sons of Gaea and Ouranos, they were cast by their father into Tartarus so that they could not seize power. They were released by Cronus but were again subsequently thrust into Tartarus by him. The Cyclopes were freed for the second time by Zeus for whom they manufactured thunderbolts. In the end, Apollo slew them [see also Introduction in the chapter on Gods of Greek Mythology]. The second group of Cyclopes consisted of the assistants of Hephaestus among whom the best known were Acamas [the tireless one] and Pyracmon. The third group were the Cyclopes who built the so-called Cyclopean walls of Mycenae and Tiryns. The last group of Cyclopes were those referred to by Homer. These latter were monstrous beings who practiced cannibalism and lived in an [p. 84] island where they grazed their flocks. The most celebrated Cyclopes was Polyphemus whom Odysseus blinded after having intoxicated him with wine. [pp. 84-85]

[Kyriazis, Constantine D. Eternal Greece. Translated by Harry T. Hionides. A Chat Publication.]

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