Laestrygonians
Cannibal giants who destroy almost all of Odysseus' fleet.
Overview
In Odyssey Book 10 the Laestrygonians inhabit Telepylus. A narrow entrance and calm interior make the harbour seem safe, so every captain except Odysseus moors deep within it. That apparent shelter becomes a trap. After King Antiphates seizes and eats one of the scouts, the inhabitants hurl boulders from the cliffs and spear men in the water. Odysseus survives because his own ship remains outside the harbour and he cuts its cable at once. The episode makes geography, reconnaissance and catastrophic fleet loss inseparable.
Key facts
Scouts at the royal house
Odyssey Book 10Three scouts meet the king's daughter and enter the palace; Antiphates seizes one as food while the other two escape.
The harbour becomes a trap
Boulders smash the vessels moored inside; only Odysseus' ship, held outside the entrance, can depart quickly.
Relationships
- Odysseusdestroy fleet
The giants smash the ships trapped in their harbour with boulders.
Story appearances
- The Odyssey HomecomingCannibal giants who destroy the fleet
The enclosed harbour traps the ships; only the vessel moored outside escapes.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.