The original three Cyclops were Arges, Steropes, and Brontes, and were all blacksmiths. They forged thunderbolts for Zeus for use during the great battle. They were skilled metalworkers and took up workmanship with Hephaestus in the heart of the volcano Etna. The original Cyclops, children of Uranus and Gaia, were released by Zeus at the urging of Gaia, who told Zeus that he would not be able to overthrow Cronus without their help. They forged the thunderbolts for Zeus, as well as a trident for Poseidon, and a helmet of invisibility for Hades. After the war, the Cyclops continued their work, going on to forge armor for Athena and a chariot for Ares. It was also said that they were responsible for the building of the immense walls of Tiryns and the Lion Gate at Mycenae. These three original Cyclops eventually met their end at the hands of the Olympian gods. Arges was killed by Hermes while guarding lo from Zeus, and Apollo killed Steropes and Brontes as revenge for the death of his son, Asclepius. Although the Cyclops had only forged the thunderbolt which Zeus threw at Asclepius, Apollo believed that they were responsible for the death of his son and took his revenge. During later legends, the Cyclops were described as dim witted and violent one-eyed shepherds. These Cyclops were not blacksmiths, nor were they portrayed as being intelligent or obedient. The most famous of these was the man-eating Polyphemus, who was a shepherd who was tricked and blinded by Odysseus. Prior to this encounter which led to him being blinded by Odysseus, Polyphemus had fallen in love with Galatea, a beautiful nymph. She rejected his overtures in favor of Acis, who was the son of Faunus and the river nymph Symaethis. In a rage, Polyphemus killed Acis by throwing him on a gigantic rock, causing his blood to gush and form a stream that bears his name to this day. Odysseus encountered Polyphemus on the island of the Cyclops, where they were said to live in the later legends. Poseidon was the father of Polyphemus and decided that his brutish son would be able to kill the hero. Poseidon held a grudge against Odysseus and wanted to prevent him from returning to Ithaca. Polyphemus ate six of Odysseus's men, so the cunning Odysseus had to devise an escape plan or else risk the lives of the rest of his crew. He got Polyphemus drunk and blinded him in his sleep. Then he told his men to hide under the bellies of the sheep of Polyphemus, who being blinded was unable to tell the difference between the sheep and the men. Odysseus finally smuggled his crew out of the cave and escaped the wrath of the mythical cyclops once and for all.
