One of the
more famous parts of the story between Odysseus and Polyphemus is that of the
name Odysseus gives the cyclops. This is famously translated as “No man, No
one, or Nobody. These are all correct, and the cleverness of this answer comes
through, but also paints Polyphemus as a bit a moron. Certainly, he’s not the
sharpest knife in the drawer, but the translation doesn’t do anyone any
justice.
Like
everything, it’s more complicated. The Greek word for this pseudonym is Οὖτις,
which, depending on the syntax and usage in the sentence, has two different
pronunciations: Οὖτις or μή τίς. For our purposes just think of the
pronunciations as outis and metis, respectively.
This may
sound weird, but it’s similar to how the English word lead either means a metal
that Superman can’t see through, or to be in command (or a leash or the major
part in a play or film, or . . . you get the idea). The context of the rest of
the sentence tells us what’s going on and how it should be said and read
(another word with different pronunciations).
The second pronunciation, that of
metis, just happens to coincide with another word, Μῆτις, which happens to also
be the name of Athena’s mother, the goddess of thought. In common meaning, the
word is translated to mean “someone of cunning” or “clever man.” This is
entirely appropriate to Odysseus since he is referred to in both The Iliad and The Odyssey as “clever Odysseus,” “cunning Odysseus,” and “the man
of many turns/resources/devices.”
When
Odysseus gives his name as Outis, he is actually being exceptionally clever and
honest at the same time. He is the clever man. It is simultaneously a boast and
protection. He’s showing off. It’s not so much that Polyphemus is an idiot as
that Odysseus is miles above in terms of cleverness.
For a bit
more about the whole outis and metis thing, with the original Greek text, go
here: http://cal.byu.edu/macfarlane/Odyssey/outis_in_cyclops_cave.pdf