Cyclops

🏷 Greek mythical creature pun spook enemy · symbol — by Gerry · Oct 2020 · 645 words

The cyclops is a famous one-eyed giant from Greek myths, especially the Odyssey. The name is curious, because it includes the word for “eye”, but not for “one”. Such misnomers abound with mythical creatures, and I think the reason is puns. Specifically the cyclops was so named, because kuklo-ops means “circular eye”, but also “the crowd’s eyes”: The gaze of their own subjects is the only enemy the spooks ever feared. Tellingly, the cyclops is defeated by taking away his eye, and by the top aristocrat pretending to be a “nobody”.

The cyclops has a singular round eye, because κυκλο-ωψ kuklo-ops means “circular eye”.
The cyclops has his eye on the forehead, perhaps because κοικυλλω-λοφος koikullu-lophos means “gaper [on the] crest”.
The cyclops is a mountain dweller, because of κατοικω-λοφος katoiko-lophos means “dwelling in the hills”.
The cyclops is a dangerous robber, because κακο-κλωψ kakο-klops means “evil thief”. (Wiktionary also suggests “cattle-thief”, with a word root found in Latin pecus for “cattle”.)
The cyclops is incredibly strong, perhaps because κικυς kikus means “strong”, and ληψις lepsis means “grip”.
The cyclops is made to drink wine, perhaps because κυλικειος kulikeios means “chalice”, καλπη kalpe means “pitcher”, and λοιβη loibe means “drink-offering”.
The cyclops craves to eat meat, perhaps for Phoenician אכל akel for “eating”, and Greek οψον opson for “cooked meat”, which together sound like klops. It would be a multi-lingual pun, which would fit Homer as a Greek Phoenician.
The cyclops is a spook enemy, because κυκλο-ωψ kuklo-ops means “the crowd’s eyes”, as kuklos for “circle” also meant “crowds of people standing in a circle”. The meaning is obscure, but the evil eye and other spook enemies only ever represent one thing: the gaze of the spook’s own subjects!
The cyclops is a spook enemy, also because κακο-οχλος kako-okhlos means “wretched multitudes”. As for the missing P, κακο-οχλοποιεω kako-okhlopoieo even means “forming a wretched crowd”.
The cyclops is a spook enemy, perhaps also because κοικυλλω-κλωψ koikullu-klops means gazing at the theft & kleptocracy. The subjects mustn’t see the fraud & theft that is aristocratic rule.
The cyclops is a spook enemy, perhaps also because κοεω-κλεος koeo-kleos means “hearing rumours”.
The cyclops as a spook enemy is named Polyphemos, because πολυ-φημη poly-pheme means “many voices” & “much spoken of”, i.e. many common people knowing & talking about the aristocratic fraud.
The cyclops is defeated as a spook enemy, by taking out his eye. That’s what spookery is all about: averting the people’s eyes.
The cyclops is defeated by spookery, because Odysseus introduces himself by his shortened name ουτις outis, which means “nobody”. The aristocratic overlords always feign to be “nobodies”, so that they cannot be linked to the crimes & corruption of their secret rulership. Check Wikipedia’s list of spooks who use “nobody” pseudonyms like Outis, Nemo and others.
The cyclops is defeated by spookery, perhaps also because Outis puns with ωτος utos for “spy” & “listener”. The spook aristocrats are always spying on us, their subjects.

Greek koikullu = gape; kuklos = cycle, circle, crowds

κοικύλλω koikullu : look gaping about — Ancient Greek (LSJ.gr)

Κοικυλίων Koikulion : the gaper — Ancient Greek (LSJ.gr)

κῠ́κλος kuklos : ring, circle; crowd of people standing round, ring or circle of people — Ancient Greek (LSJ.gr)

Greek ops = eye

ὄψ ops : eye, face — Ancient Greek (Wikt)

ὤψ ; ὠπός ops; upos : eye — Ancient Greek (Wikt)

Greek kako = wretched; okhlos, okhlopoieo = crowd, mob, masses, multitudes

κᾰκός kakós : bad, worthless, useless; ugly, hideous; injurious, wretched, unhappy; low, mean, vile, evil — Ancient Greek (Wikt)

ὄχλος ochlos : a crowd, multitude, the common people; gathering, mob, riot — Ancient Greek (Strong)

ὀχλοποιέω ochlopoieó : gather a crowd, make a riot, form a mob — Ancient Greek (Strong)

Greek klops = thief; klope = theft, fraud

κλώψ klops : thief — Ancient Greek (Wikt)

κλοπός klopos : thief — Ancient Greek (LSJ.gr)

κλοπή klope : theft; secret act or transaction, fraud — Ancient Greek (LSJ.gr)

κλέπτω klepto : steal, filch; cheat; mislead, keep secret; disguise, conceal — Ancient Greek (Wikt)

🏷 Greek mythical creature pun spook enemy · symbol