Ulysses and the Cyclops Polyphemus. Short stories for children

The Greek mythology contains the foundations of Western culture, but we understand that it is not always accessible for the little ones. In Guiainfantil we are adapting the mythological legends in the form of short stories so that the children can enjoy and learn at the same time. On this occasion w

The Greek mythology contains the foundations of Western culture, but we understand that it is not always accessible for the little ones. In Guiainfantil we are adapting the mythological legends in the form of short stories so that the children can enjoy and learn at the same time.

On this occasion we sail with the Greek hero Ulysses to the island of Sicily where he will meet some very special beings, the Cyclops. The collision of Ulysses with the cyclops Polyphemus will be solved, once again, thanks to the ingenuity of the Greek hero.

Ulysses, the Cyclops Polyphemus and Nobody

The Greek hero Ulysses sailed back to his house on the island of Ithaca after the Trojan War. There his wife Penelope was waiting for him, full of patience, because the truth is that it took Ulysses a few years. And on the way he had to make many stops and live a few adventures.

Sometimes Ulysses and his sailors had to stop on some island to pick up some food. Thus came to the island of the Cyclops, the current Sicily. The Cyclopes were strange beings, gigantons with a huge strength that had only one eye, but neither Ulysses nor his sailors knew the existence of these beings. So they went into the island in search of food without any fear.

They walked and walked until they came to a huge cave and there they found cheeses as big and as round as a roundabout. They took out the wine they were carrying and began to taste the delicious and enormous sheep cheese. So quiet were they when suddenly the ground began to tremble under their feet, to the cave began to enter dozens of sheep and behind them came an ugly and dirty giant with only one eye. It was the Cyclops Polyphemus.

Polyphemus closed the entrance to the cave with a stone so big that no man could move it and immediately smelled Ulysses and his sailors. He got very angry because the Cyclopes are not especially sociable and do not like visits.

- Who are you and why are you in my cave? cried Polyphemus. Ulysses, who was the most astute and intelligent Greek hero, smelled problems and his mind went to work fast.

- My name isNobody

, and these are my sailors, -dijo said Ulysses .- Ummmm, because your sailors are very very rich, Nobody- said Polyphemus

while eating two of the sailors. Ulysses tried to calm the enraged Cyclops by playing the flute and offered him a drink of the wine they were carrying. Polyphemus had never tasted the wine and liked it so much that he drank the entire bottle. So he was a little tipsy and immediately fell asleep.

Ulises did not know very well how they were going to get out of that cave because it was impossible to move the huge stone that was the door. But there was nothing impossible for the ingenious hero. Ulises took an olive branch and punctured with it the only eye of Polifemo , leaving him blind and in pain. The cyclops woke up screaming in pain and blindly managed to get to the door of the cave, moved the stone and went to warn his brothers cyclops who lived on the same island.

- Brothers, I have been blinded! - Polifemo shouted - Who has left you blind, Polyphemus? - his brothers asked him. - Nobodyhas left me blind!

That was the answer of

Polyphemus

afterUlysses cheated him with his name. Then the rest of the Cyclops thought it was a Polyphemus joke and they ignored him. So Ulysses and his sailors could leave the cave and run to the beach to embark on a new adventure.

Laura Vélez. Editor of Guiainfantil.com