The Blinding of Polyphemus, on a black-figure attic oenochoe of the 6th century in the Naples museum

The painting shows two phases in the story: on the left a sailor in short shirt and petasos stokes the fire with the pole. On the right, two men, in similar attire, plunge the pole into the giant's eye. Polyphemus' true size is suggested. He lies back, resting against a rock, asleep, beneath a spreading tree, a club resting on his left arm.

The tree is a mere space filler and is not meant to suggest the outdoors