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Why does Odysseus call himself Nobody when he meets Polyphemus?
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Odyssey: A Reader’s Guide to Homer’s Epic
Engraving of Homer by Hieronymus Wierix, 16th century; in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus tells the Cyclops Polyphemus that his name is "Nobody" as part of a clever strategy to facilitate his escape from the giant's cave.1
After Odysseus and his men are trapped and several crew members are devoured, Odysseus gets Polyphemus drunk on strong wine. When the giant asks for his name, Odysseus provides the false identity of "Nobody". Later, after Odysseus and his companions blind the giant, Polyphemus cries out to his neighbors for help, claiming that "Nobody" is killing him. Taking his words literally, the other Cyclopes assume he is suffering from a divine affliction and do not come to his aid, allowing Odysseus and his remaining men to escape.1