Scylla and Charybdis
Stories where we can find them: They are mentioned in Homer's epic poem the Odyssey
(book XII) when Odysseus and his crew crossed the area between the two monsters. They
are also found in the epic poem Argonautica , the adventures of Jason and the Argonauts, in
the labors of Hercules and in the adventures of Aeneas in the Aeneid.
Origin (place, period): In Greek mythology, Scylla and Charybdis were a pair of terrible
immortal monsters. Scylla was originally a sea nymph who was turned into a six-headed beast
with three rows of sharp teeth in each head. Charybdis was also a sea naiad who was
transformed into a dangerous whirlpool across the strait from Scylla.
According to Homer, Scylla and Charybdis were located opposite to each other, in a narrow
sea passage which was called The Symplegades Rocks or Clashing Rocks. This narrow passage
is mentioned to be placed at the Bosphorus – Scylla lived on the European coast while
Charybdis was located near the Asian coast. Others place them at Cape Tenaro and others
close to the Canary Islands. A later variation of the myth places Scylla and Charybdis in the
Strait of Messina between Italy and Sicily.
Physical Description: Scylla was a frightful monster with twelve great tentacle-like legs and
six heads on long necks, each with three rows of sharp teeth, dripping poison. In art, Scylla
is depicted as half human and half monster. She had the face and torso of a woman, but from
below her waist grew six dog heads which barked unceasingly and made horrible sounds. Her
body below that sprouted twelve canine legs and a sea serpent’s tail. She hid in her cave and
whenever a ship passed near her, she struck out and each of her heads would grab one
member of the crew.
Charybdis was a sea-monster which was most likely the personification of a whirlpool. Her
face was all a gigantic mouth and her arms and legs were flippers. Three times a day, she
sucked a huge amount of water and then spouted it back out again, forming a whirlpool.
Charybdis was also described as being eternally hungry.
Human Features: Yes / Scylla: head and body of a woman.
Charybdis: anthropomorphic.
Behaviour (good / bad): Bad / terrible monsters, did not let anyone pass. Sailors, on trying to
avoid Charybdis, became the victims of Scylla and vice versa.
Powers / Skills: Charybdis was swallowing everything that was passing from her side three
times a day. While Skylla, with her long necks and her six heads, grabbed the sailors that
were trying to avoid Charybdis, lifted them up, pulled its necks back and ate them.
Weakness: According to the ancient myth of Homer, Scylla was sentimentally moved when
she heard her mother’s name, so Odysseus was able to pass between the two monsters.
Association with other animals: Parallel with animals of other cultures: Comparison with animals of other countries (similarities / differences): -