Scylla and Charybdis
Scylla and Charybdis
Scylla was once a beautiful nymph. As a result of a romantic complication between either Amphitrite and Poseidon, or Circe and Glaucus, or perhaps simply the fact of her birth to Keto and Phorcys she was transformed into a horrible six-headed beast with dog-like heads and tentacles. She occupied a ledge on the opposite side of the strait to Charybdis, and would snatch up sailors from boats to eat.
Charybdis was the child of Poseidon and Gaia. She was cast into the sea by Zeus. No one is sure of her appearance, but she manifested herself on the surface as a gargantuan whirlpool, sucking in water and blowing it explosively back out three times a day.
Later, Odysseus is forced to outlast Charybdis’ intake by clinging to a fig tree after Zeus slaughtered his crew for the murder of Helios’ cattle.
In the books, the main trio and Clarisse’s crew aboard the CSS Birmingham pass through the strait when entering the Sea of Monsters. Annabeth suggests Circe’s path, by Scylla, but Clarisse risks Charybdis and gets them through by giving her a stomachache with celestial bronze cannonballs.
Sources & Credits
Basic Information
Creators: Circe or Amphitrite
Realm: Strait of Messina
Symbol: Whirlpool/Many-Headed Monster
Scylla was once a beautiful nymph. As a result of a romantic complication between either Amphitrite and Poseidon, or Circe and Glaucus, or perhaps simply the fact of her birth to Keto and Phorcys she was transformed into a horrible six-headed beast with dog-like heads and tentacles. She occupied a ledge on the opposite side of the strait to Charybdis, and would snatch up sailors from boats to eat.
Charybdis was the child of Poseidon and Gaia. She was cast into the sea by Zeus. No one is sure of her appearance, but she manifested herself on the surface as a gargantuan whirlpool, sucking in water and blowing it explosively back out three times a day.
Brief History
The duo appear most famously in the Odyssey. When passing through the Strait of Messina, Odysseus is forced to choose between the two monsters- both of which would have caused death to his crew. Circe advised him to choose Scylla, as her toll was only six men -one per head- whereas Charybdis could have caused the demise of the entire crew and their boat.Later, Odysseus is forced to outlast Charybdis’ intake by clinging to a fig tree after Zeus slaughtered his crew for the murder of Helios’ cattle.
In the books, the main trio and Clarisse’s crew aboard the CSS Birmingham pass through the strait when entering the Sea of Monsters. Annabeth suggests Circe’s path, by Scylla, but Clarisse risks Charybdis and gets them through by giving her a stomachache with celestial bronze cannonballs.
Trivia
- “Between Scylla and Charybdis” is a term for a difficult decision.
- Technically, Charybdis is Percy’s half-sister.
- The myth of Scylla’s creation is almost identical in the Circe/Glaucus and Amphitrite/Poseidon myths.
- The infamous duo pop up in Epic: The Musical as obstacles in the later parts of the production.
- The dog aspect of Scylla’s heads is often forgotten in favour of more marine creatures, like eels
Sources & Credits
Information from Scylla and Charybdis - Riordan Wiki
Written by Invern Solstorn