Ulysses was the curious, smart and virtuous king of the Greek island Ithaca. After the decade-long Trojan war, he traveled for ten years trying to return home to his beloved family. He encountered many perils on his journey but he faced them all with bravery and cleverness. Ulysses is most famous for his fight with the Cyclops, Polyphemus. Offering Polyphemus a barrel of wine from Ismarus, a region in Thrace that produced strong wine, Polyphemus drank the wine and fell fast asleep. Ulysses and his men escaped the one-eyed giant’s clutches, allowing him to continue on his journey home!