Odysseus and his men were able to escape from Polyphemus by using a combination of cunning and deception. Here's how it happened:
Tricking Polyphemus with Wine:
When Odysseus and his men were trapped in Polyphemus' cave, Odysseus realized that the giant was vulnerable to alcohol. He gave Polyphemus a strong wine that he had brought with him, and the giant eagerly drank it. As Polyphemus became more and more intoxicated, he fell into a deep sleep.
Escaping the Cave:
Once Polyphemus was fast asleep, Odysseus and his men took action. They heated a large, sharp wooden stake in the fire and drove it into Polyphemus' only eye, blinding him. In pain and anger, Polyphemus flailed his arms, but Odysseus and his men had already moved out of his reach.
Using Sheep to Escape:
When Polyphemus realized he was blind, he started feeling the entrance of the cave to prevent anyone from leaving. Odysseus came up with a clever plan to deceive the giant. He and his men tied themselves to the undersides of Polyphemus' sheep and waited until the morning.
Blinding Polyphemus:
As the sheep began to leave the cave, Polyphemus felt along their backs to count them. However, he didn't notice Odysseus and his men clinging underneath. Odysseus and his men managed to successfully sneak past the giant and make their way out of the cave.
Taunting Polyphemus:
Once they were safe outside, Odysseus shouted back to Polyphemus in a taunting manner, revealing his name. This angered Polyphemus even further, but he couldn't catch them since he was blind.
In this way, Odysseus and his men outsmarted and successfully escaped from the clutches of the powerful Cyclops, Polyphemus.
