Laestrygonians
Giant cannibals who destroyed eleven of Odysseus's twelve ships by hurling boulders from cliffs above their harbor.
The Myth of Laestrygonians
They sank eleven ships in minutes — the single worst military disaster in the entire Odyssey. Odysseus's fleet of twelve ships entered the harbor of Telepylus, a land where the sun barely set. Only Odysseus kept his ship outside the harbor mouth. The Laestrygonians appeared on the cliffs above and began hurling boulders, smashing the ships below. They speared the drowning sailors like fish and carried them off to eat. Only Odysseus's ship escaped because he had the instinct to stay near the exit. From twelve ships and hundreds of men, he was reduced to one crew. Homer gives this episode minimal dramatic build-up — the horror is in the speed.
Symbols
Fun Fact
The land where the sun barely sets may reference a real geographic location at extreme latitude — possibly Norway or Sardinia.
Explore Further
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🐉 creatureSix-headed sea monster
A terrifying sea monster with six heads on long necks, each with three rows of teeth. She lived in a cliff cave opposite the whirlpool Charybdis, creating an impossible choice for sailors.
Antiphates
🗡 heroCannibalism, kingship
King of the Laestrygonians, a race of man-eating giants encountered by Odysseus on his voyage home
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🐉 creaturesea monsters
A sea monster sent by Poseidon to ravage Troy, fought by Heracles in exchange for divine horses
Cetus
🐉 creaturesea monsters
A colossal sea monster sent by Poseidon to ravage the coast of Ethiopia
Phorcydes
🐉 creaturesea creatures
The monstrous children of Phorcys and Ceto, including the Gorgons, Graeae, and other terrors
Sirens
🐉 creatureEnchanting singers who lured sailors to death
Dangerous creatures whose irresistible singing lured sailors to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. Only Odysseus and the Argonauts survived hearing their song.
Polyphemus
🐉 creaturesavagery
One-eyed giant son of Poseidon who trapped Odysseus and ate six of his men before being blinded with a burning stake.
Siren Songs
🐉 creatureBird-women whose song lured sailors to death
The Sirens were creatures — part bird, part woman — whose irresistible song lured sailors to crash on their island's rocks.
Wanderings of Odysseus
💭 conceptNarrative
The fantastic adventures Odysseus experienced across the Mediterranean during his decade-long voyage home
Spartoi
🐉 creaturewarriors
Armed warriors who sprang fully grown from dragon's teeth sown in the earth, ancestors of Theban nobility
Gegenees
🐉 creaturegiants
Six-armed earth-born giants who attacked the Argonauts on Bear Mountain
Karkinos
🐉 creaturesea creatures
A giant crab sent by Hera to aid the Hydra against Heracles during his second labour