Critical Introduction

This sculpted head of the giant Cyclops Polyphemus came from a larger sculptural group depicting a scene from The Odyssey. We cannot tell if it is a Greek or Roman work, since Roman artists often very closely copied Greek models. It is similar to a figure from the Roman Emperor Tiberius's imperial villa at Sperlonga, on the west coast of the Italian peninsula. The head is quite different from earlier images of Cyclopes, which made the monsters more bestial or comical. In this powerful image, it is clear that the monster is based on an entirely human prototype. Even the signature feature of the Cyclops, the single eye in the middle of the face, emerges from the suggestion of a normative pair of eyes. The crow's feet to the left of the eye seem to mimic the lid of another eye, tightly closed. The space to the right of the eye also bulges a bit, like there is an eyeball beneath the flesh.

In Hellenistic style, the face is carved in a highly naturalistic manner. The tousled hair, tangled beard, wrinkled forehead, and bulbous nose are all convincing, and the softly textured skin sagging off the cheekbones conveys not only flesh and the bone structure beneath, but also the Cyclops's age and his long exposure to the elements on the island where Odysseus and his men find him. The naturalism of the sculpture, which has a solid, convincing presence, makes this mythical monster feel plausible, even possible.

Viewing Questions

What emotions are conveyed in this image? What would it feel like to stand in front of it, in the gaze of the single, great eye? Does this image strike you as a monster? Why or why not?