A Cunning of Polyphemus

Polyphemus, after hearing the true name of his blinder, insidiously invites him to turn back so that the Itacese may receive the hospitable gift from him, from whom he has nothing more to fear not only because, as had long been foretold, it was destiny that a man called Odysseus would have deprived him of the eye, but also because he is convinced that his father Poseidon will heal him. Here we propose an unprecedented interpretation of Odysseus' response (cfr. Odyssey ix 523-525), which, however aggressive, does not constitute an act of upsilon beta rho iota sigma, as it has also been maintained by those who, in the end, exclude that Polyphemus could be so cunning as to feign hope in healing. The formal elaboration of Odysseus' last speech to Polyphemus makes it a rhetorical masterpiece, an extraordinary alpha delta upsilon nu alpha tau omicron nu, with which the Greek hero, foiling the Cyclops's deception, makes the adversary certain of the mortal hatred he has for him, starting from the certainty with which also Polyphemus knows that not even a powerful god like his father Poseidon will be able to restore his sight.