# Polyphemus — Metamorphoses character guide

> Polyphemus in Metamorphoses by Ovid.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0132-story-of-acis-polyphemus-and-galatea

## Snapshot

A Cyclops whose crude, volcanic love for the sea nymph Galatea turns murderous when he catches her with his rival Acis.

## Who they are

Polyphemus inhabits the pastoral world as a monstrous shepherd whose size and strength make him both ridiculous and terrifying as a suitor. His desire for Galatea curdles into jealous rage, exposing how love in Ovid so often collapses into possession and violence. His brutal intervention in the Galatea-Acis idyll shows how the Metamorphoses lets crude force shatter tender romance, setting the pattern for transformations born of thwarted passion.

## In the story

### [Story of Acis, Polyphemus, and Galatea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/story-of-acis-polyphemus-and-galatea)

Cyclops who passionately loves Galatea and kills Acis out of jealousy.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/characters/polyphemus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/metamorphoses_se/characters