Scylla

Skylla ( Scylla or even Scylla; Σκύλλα ancient Greek ) was a sea monster from Greek mythology with the upper body of a young woman and a lower body, which consisted of six dogs. A famous Hellenistic statue group of Sperlonga, called Scylla group, showing the monster in the attack on Odysseus and his men.

About Scylla there are different legends. According to legend it to have once been a beautiful girl, the daughter of the river Krataiis. Glaucus loved her, but the sorceress Circe was jealous because she herself loved Glaucus. And so poisoned Kirke the sea where Scylla bathed like. When they again got out of the water, she was disfigured, because it grew out of her abdomen six dogs' heads and twelve dogs feet. Henceforth, Scylla was anxious to avenge the wrong done to her and became the wild animal. The Scylla lived over another monster called Charybdis on a rock at the Straits of Messina. Together they are two inevitable, same great evil. They ate everything that lived and came in their reach, and took with their tentacles, especially unwary sailors who therefore came too close to her because they wanted to avoid Charybdis. When Odysseus went through the narrows, they devoured six of his companions.

In some sources Scylla was also with Scylla, daughter of Nisus, associated ( Virgil, Eclogues 6.74 to 77; Propertius, Elegiae 4,4,39-40 ). After the family tree of the Greek gods descended from Scylla Phorkys and Hecate.

The phrase " between Scylla and Charybdis " means a situation in which it is located between two dangers. By soaking of a danger from, one goes into the other. It is therefore necessary to find the right path between two fatalities through.

After the Scylla also the place Scilla is named on the Strait of Messina, where she is said to have lived according to the legend.

The Norwegian monk Theodoric Monachus ( 12th century ) held Pentland Firth for the straits of Scylla and Charybdis.