Polyphemus

Joseph Anthony Mugnaini

A lithograph done by Joseph Mugnaini in 1953, working with the California Master Printer, lithographer Lynton Kistler. From a series of mythological themes done in editions of 20. This impression is accompanied by an 'authentication' from Kistler and signed by Mugnaini.

Mugnaini began his long-time collaboration with author Ray Bradbury in 1952, during which time he interpreted and illustrated many of Bradbury's books, including "Fahrenheit 451" through the "Martian Chronicles".

Polyphemus, son of Poseidon, god of the sea, is the most famous of the Cyclopes (one-eyed giants) in Greek mythology. During his return from the Trojan War, Odysseus lands on the island of the Cyclopes. He and his men enter a cave filled with provisions. When Polyphemus returns with his flock of sheep and finds the strangers in his cave, he places a large stone at the entrance of the cave and begins to slowly devour Odysseus' men. Odysseus plies Polyphemus with a strong wine which makes him drunk and sleepy. To save his men, Odysseus drives a wooden stake into the eye of the one-eyed giant and his men escape in the morning tied to the bellies of the sheep. In this image, Odysseus and his men have returned to their ship but the blinded Polyphemus is about to hurl a giant stone in revenge.