In his labours he was assisted by the Cyclops, who are said by some, to
have possessed but one eye, placed in the middle of the forehead. They
inhabited the western part of the island of Sicily; but the tradition of
their only having one eye originated, in all probability, from their custom
of wearing small bucklers of steel which covered their faces, with a small
aperture in the middle, corresponding exactly to the eye. They were
sometimes reckoned among the Gods, and had a temple at Corinth, where
worship and sacrifices were solemnly offered.
"The Cyclops brethren, arrogant of heart,
Who forged the lightning shaft, and gave to Jove
His thunder; they were like unto the gods,
Save that a single ball of sight was fixed
In their mid forehead. Cyclops was their name,
From that round eye-ball in their brow infixed;
And strength, and force, and manual craft were theirs."