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[71] Κυκλώπεσσι. We have a choice of interpretations here, (1) in the eyes of all the Cyclops, or (2) among all the Cyclops. Cp. Od. 11. 485; 16. 265, where “κρατεῖν” is similarly used with a dative. Analogous to this is the phrase “ἀφνειὸς Πυλίοισι μέγ᾽ ἔξοχα” Od. 15. 227. See Ellendt. (Bemerkung über Hom. Sprachgeb. Königsberg, 1863) who maintains that such datives are the regular object dative after the verb, “μέγα κρατέεις νεκύεσσι” Od.11. 485(where see note), “λαῶν οἷσιν ἄνασσε” Od.2. 234, “γιγάντεσσι βασίλευεν” Od.7. 59, “εἰνάκις ἀνδράσιν ἦρξα” Od.14. 230.However we explain the dative it must be carefully distinguished from the use of the genitive after such words, nor could we couple “μέγιστον Κυκλώπεσσι” in the same sense in which a superlative is followed occasionally by a genitive expressing competition and comparison. See Fäsi's note.

Homer's Odyssey. W. Walter Merry. James Riddell. D. B. Monro. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1886-1901.

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