---
title: Marble Head of Polyphemus
author: Carole Raddato
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19546/marble-head-of-polyphemus/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
updated: 2024-10-10
---

# Marble Head of Polyphemus

_Authored by Carole Raddato_

## Image File

[![Marble Head of Polyphemus](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/19546.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/19546.jpg)

## Image Caption

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](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rome/). Dated to about 150 BCE or later.

Polyphemus was a one-eyed, man-eating [Cyclops](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Cyclops/) [giant](https://www.worldhistory.org/Giants/). In an episode of [Homer](https://www.worldhistory.org/homer/)'s *[Odyssey](https://www.worldhistory.org/Odyssey/)*, [Odysseus](https://www.worldhistory.org/odysseus/) encounters Polyphemus, gets him drunk on wine, and drives a small sharpened stake into Polyphemus' only eye, blinding him.

Museum Fine Arts, Boston.

## Cite This Work

### APA
Raddato, C. (2024, October 10). Marble Head of Polyphemus. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19546/marble-head-of-polyphemus/>
### Chicago
Raddato, Carole. "Marble Head of Polyphemus." *World History Encyclopedia*, October 10, 2024. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19546/marble-head-of-polyphemus/>.
### MLA
Raddato, Carole. "Marble Head of Polyphemus." *World History Encyclopedia*, 10 Oct 2024, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19546/marble-head-of-polyphemus/>.

## License & Copyright

[![copyright source](/images/partners/white-flickr.png)](https://www.flickr.com/photos/carolemage/53298656132/)This image was first published on [Flickr](http://www.flickr.com). [Original image](https://www.flickr.com/photos/carolemage/53298656132/) by [**Carole Raddato**](https://www.flickr.com/photos/carolemage/53298656132/). Submitted by [Carole Raddato](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/FollowingHadrian/ "User Page: Carole Raddato"), published on 10 October 2024. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon a work even for commercial reasons, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.