Scylla.
The danger on the other shore
Scylla: Greek Sea Monster, Charybdis and Odysseus’s Choicewaits above a narrow sea passage opposite . must sail close enough to lose companions in order to avoid a danger that could swallow the whole ship.
More than a myth.
Scylla in the Odyssey
describes as a terrifying cave-dweller with six heads, each capable of taking a man from a passing ship. She cannot be defeated through ordinary battle. nevertheless arms himself, a gesture that cannot solve the problem the warning has described. Six companions are taken as the ship passes.
Scylla and Charybdis
On the opposite side, draws down and expels the sea. judges the loss to less disastrous than the destruction of everyone in the whirlpool. The choice gives the episode its enduring force: the leader is choosing among harms, not finding a route that makes the danger disappear.
Ovid’s transformed Scylla
tells a different origin in which Glaucus loves and seeks ’s assistance. Circe desires him herself and poisons the waters where Scylla bathes, transforming the girl’s lower body into a ring of monstrous dogs. This backstory belongs to the Roman poem; does not narrate it in the strait episode.
Questions about Scylla
How many heads does Scylla have?
Six in the , each taking a companion from ’s ship. ’s transformation account emphasizes a different arrangement of canine forms.
Does Odysseus kill Scylla?
No. He passes her while losing six men. The advice he receives concerns survival through the strait, not victory over its inhabitants.
It’s a family affair.
Scylla
The deadly strait of the OdysseyNo children represented in this edition.
The stories of Scylla.
Continue with the ancient accounts.
This story collection does not yet include a full retelling centered on Scylla. Explore the cited sources below and the connected profiles for more of the surviving accounts.
Ancient voices.
Enduring stories.
Myths have many tellings. These are the ancient works behind this profile, linked to freely available English translations.
Odyssey
Book 12.73–126, 201–259
Metamorphoses
Book 14.1–74