Charybdis and Scylla: Story and Summary, Odysseus Encounter

Dernière modification le 11/08/2026.

To fall between Scylla and Charybdis, or to encounter these two sea monsters, one after the other, in a strait.

Table des matières

Introduction

In Greek mythology, Charybdis and Scylla are two creatures who might be mistaken for sisters. Yet they are two monsters with no familial connection, who found themselves together in a strait—believed to be the Strait of Messina—where they spread terror.

History

Charybdis

Charybdis (pronounced “karybe”), daughter of Poseidon, the god of the oceans, and Gaia, was a monster. No meal could ever satisfy her, and one day she devoured Heracles’ herd. To punish her, Zeus banished her to a strait for all eternity.

Scylla

Scylla, for her part, was a nymph with whom Glaucus, a sea god, was in love. To win her over, he asked the sorceress Circe for a love potion, but she was in love with him. To get rid of her rival, she transformed her into a monster that ended up in the same Strait of Charybdis, a little further on. It is said that her scream makes the blood run cold in the veins of all who hear it.

In another version, it was Poseidon who fell in love with her, and his wife Amphitrite, out of jealousy, threw Circe’s magic herbs into the young woman’s bath to turn her into a monster.

To fall from Charybdis into Scylla

Their legend gave rise to the famous expression in french “to fall from Charybdis into Scylla” (incidit in Scyllam qui vult vitare Charybdim in latin) which can be translated as: to go from bad to worse. Indeed, when sailors passed through the strait—located near Sardinia—they first encountered Charybdis. Three times a day, the monster would swallow and spew out the water around it, creating powerful whirlpools so strong that it is said even Poseidon himself could not escape them. Charybdis is the embodiment of all or nothing, for either the entire crew would survive or they would sink completely into the waters.

Once past Charybdis, they came upon Scylla, who is the embodiment of random death. Faced with these two, it was certain that some sailors would die and others would survive. When Odysseus encountered her during his journey, he attempted to confront her despite Circe’s warnings—she had clearly told him that she could not be defeated. He lost six men from his crew and resolved to leave. Aeneas also encountered them during his journey.