THE ROCKS OF THE CYCLOPS

During their long voyage in the Mediterranean, the Trojans cross the Gulf of Tarentum, pass the sanctuary of Hera Lacinia (today Capo Colonna in Calabria) and arrive at Charybdis, where they manage to escape the dangerous whirlpool, located in the Strait of Messina.

In the evening, tired and unaware, they disembark on the rocks of the Cyclops, dominated by the massive and threatening mass of Etna. Dark clouds of smoke predict that the volcano is about to erupt. Taking refuge in a wood, Aeneas and his companions watch the magnificent spectacle of the mountain which, amidst sinister roars, shakes and spews fiery lava.

At dawn, the Trojans meet a terrified man covered in rags: he is the Greek Achaemenides, forgotten there by Ulysses in the fury of his departure. The man, recalling the monstrous cruelty of Polyphemus, urges the Trojans to flee. And in fact the Cyclops appears, gigantic and horrible, with its one eyehole empty and bleeding: Aeneas and his men rush to the ships, taking with them Achemenides, once their enemy but now a travelling companion in need of help.

Rowing vigorously, and frightened, they head out to sea, while Polyphemus enters the water amidst the waves and tries to grab them with his huge hand. When he realises that the Trojans have managed to escape, Polyphemus lets out a scream so powerful that it shakes the sea and the land. At that cry the other Cyclops come running, but fortunately Aeneas and his men are far away and out of reach.

© Photo by Piermanuele Sberni on Unsplash