Classification: Mythical Beasts & Cryptids

Temporal Range: 8th to 2nd Century BCE

Geographic Range: Sicily

Diet: Men, especially those on epic voyages

Horde: Greek

A giant with one-eye, the Cyclops creates a striking figure. But who are these humongous creatures? There are supposedly more than one kind of Cyclops - master wallbuilders, the blacksmiths who created lightning bolts for Zeus and the shepherds who attacked the heroes of the Odyssey.

The blacksmiths were titans who were the children of Uranus and Gaia. They were trapped in Tartarus by their brother Cronos after helping to overthrow their mother Gaia. However, they would eventually go on to work for the smith god Hephaistos in Mount Etna and make thunderbolts for Zeus.They are also responsible for creating other key artefacts for Greek gods and heroes.

Those featured in Homer’s work, however, are portrayed as less intelligent and more interested in a simple life, living in caves on the isle of Sicily. These creatures attack any humans who approach and often end up eating them. The most famous of which was blinded by Odysseus as he attempted to escape.