h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Indeed! I never thought we were going to get it!

Good team work. I'll have to see how I divvy up points.

But that'll have to wait till I get back to my other computer next week. So for extra points, does anyone want to tell me why so many Greek cyclopses are blacksmiths?

They can shoot beams of heat from the eye to melt metal?

Creative, but no.

I take it the eye-beams were a later fantasy invention.

Y'think?

Is it to do with *either* their size *or* something to do with how humans were given fire? Do they have some kind of heirarchichal role with regard to fire which is, of course, necessary for smithing?

Is it because they've a good eye for detail?

because humans are forward facing bi-focal(2 eyes at the front) we have good distance vision, for closer work we focus with one or the other eye turning our heads as we do this, like blacksmiths would, so cyclopi having one eye at the front would have very bad depth and distance perception, and being giants would be very strong, thus making them ideal blacksmiths

It is a trade which runs in the family, and they are all related to each other?

Because it was standard Greek stereotyping at the time (like 'all Portuguese are masons')?

Because they were friends of (or, better still, created by) Hephaistos?

Well done btw Taff

Were they the children of Vulcan?

RF

Are they all named Smith?

Were they all black?

This has to have some connection to Promethius, who first gave humans fire, according to legend.......

Was Promethius a cyclops????

If so, then all cyclops were related to Promethius, and as punishment, had to serve humans as Blaksmiths.....



GT

Prometheus was a titan if my memory serves.

Not quite, though Taff is closest - but still far off.

like odin they gave up an eye, in this case for the knowledge of metalworking hense they are all smiths

Because blacksmithing is an activity which requires only dedication, which can be symbolised by a single eye?