The Blinding of Polyphemus (scene 1)

In the Sala di Ulisse the story of Odysseus begins in the centre image of the ceiling, which first captures the attention of those entering the room by an especially sculptural framing and through the size, force, and drama of the depiction. In the figure of the giant Polyphemus, whom Odysseus is ramming on the eye with a stake, Tibaldi combines the models of Michelangelo’s Adam from the Sistine ceiling and the ancient marble figure of Laoco�n.