Final answer:
Polyphemus was interpreted by later authors and political philosophers as a symbol of tyranny, the limitations of human understanding, and the challenging of traditional values.
Step-by-step explanation:
Later authors and political philosophers interpreted Polyphemus as a representation of various concepts. In Plato's work, Polyphemus was seen as a symbol of tyranny and the limitations of human understanding. Polyphemus was also associated with the Thirty Tyrants, a group that replaced Athens' democratic government after the Peloponnesian War. Additionally, the imagery of Polyphemus in literature and art often conveyed ideas of traditional values being challenged and questioned.