The Scylla is a Greek mythical creature, it is said to be immortal and irresistible to sailors ("Scylla and Charybdis"). Homer describes this creature as having 12 feet, canine features around her waist, and six heads on long scaled necks ("Scylla and Charybdis"). Each of the heads has three rows of razor sharp teeth like those of an alligator ("Scylla and Charybdis"). It lives in a cave lair and eats all men who venture into its cave ("Scylla and Charybdis"). It lures sailors into its cave by making a high pitched voice like that of a small child, when the sailors enter the cave they are eaten by one of her six heads ("Skylla"). The Scylla lives in a strait across from the monster Kharybdis ("Skylla"). The land adjacent to the strait is full of jagged peaks made of smooth rock so no one could climb over the rocks so the travelers would be forced to go through the strait and confront one of the monster ("Skylla").
As with many off the ancient myths the ledgends vary from source to source. Certain experts say that according to myth Scylla used to be a human but was transformed by Circe, a witch, into a terrifying creature ("Scylla and Charybdis"). Others said that Scylla was origionally a sea nymph not a human and the god Glaukus ("Skylla"). A jealous witch Kirke then used her magical powers to curse Scylla and turn her into a monster ("Skylla"). Homer describes Scylla in the Odyssey as “Scylla is not of mortal kind; she is a deathless monster, grim and baleful, savage, not to be wrestled with” ("Homer, Odyssey 12. 54.") “The wicked monster borne to Phorkys by nigh-wandering Hekate, whom men call Kratais (Crataeis)--or she may swoop down, take her pick and destroy them in her terrible jaws. What you must do is so to guide the ship that they escape disaster, if only by a hair's breadth” ("Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4. 825"). This passage decribes the dangerous area where Scylla supposedly lived. The name Scylla is derived from the Greek Skylax meaning dog or dog-shark and Skyllo meaning to rend ("Skylla").
As with many off the ancient myths the ledgends vary from source to source. Certain experts say that according to myth Scylla used to be a human but was transformed by Circe, a witch, into a terrifying creature ("Scylla and Charybdis"). Others said that Scylla was origionally a sea nymph not a human and the god Glaukus ("Skylla"). A jealous witch Kirke then used her magical powers to curse Scylla and turn her into a monster ("Skylla"). Homer describes Scylla in the Odyssey as “Scylla is not of mortal kind; she is a deathless monster, grim and baleful, savage, not to be wrestled with” ("Homer, Odyssey 12. 54.") “The wicked monster borne to Phorkys by nigh-wandering Hekate, whom men call Kratais (Crataeis)--or she may swoop down, take her pick and destroy them in her terrible jaws. What you must do is so to guide the ship that they escape disaster, if only by a hair's breadth” ("Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4. 825"). This passage decribes the dangerous area where Scylla supposedly lived. The name Scylla is derived from the Greek Skylax meaning dog or dog-shark and Skyllo meaning to rend ("Skylla").
Works Cited
"SCYLLA : Sea Monster | Greek Mythology, Skylla, W/ Pictures." SCYLLA : Sea Monster | Greek Mythology, Skylla, W/ Pictures. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Scylla and Charybdis (Greek Mythology)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
Mcayvyv. Tumblr. Mcayvyv, n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
Homer, and W. Walter Merry. Homer. Odyssey. Oxford: Clarendon, 1925. Print.
Apollonius, and R. L. Hunter. "4.825." Argonautica. Cambridge, England: Cambridge UP, 1989. N. pag. Print.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Scylla and Charybdis (Greek Mythology)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
Mcayvyv. Tumblr. Mcayvyv, n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
Homer, and W. Walter Merry. Homer. Odyssey. Oxford: Clarendon, 1925. Print.
Apollonius, and R. L. Hunter. "4.825." Argonautica. Cambridge, England: Cambridge UP, 1989. N. pag. Print.