Scylla
Part of The Encyclopedia of Southern Italy.
Scylla (Grk: Skylla): A mythological monster which lived in a cave on the mainland side of the Straits of Messina. According to some classical writers, Scylla was originally was a beautiful nymph, daughter of Crataeis. Beloved by the sea-god Glaukos, she incurred the jealousy of the witch Circe who turned her into a horrible monster which barked like a dog. Earlier writers, however, claim that she was born a monster. Most sources describe Scylla as having 12 feet and a fearsome head at the end of each of her 6 long necks. The mouth of each head had 3 rows of sharp teeth. Others say she had only 3 heads or the heads of six different animals. Although best known for her attack of Odysseus and his men in Homer’s Odyssey, she appears occasionally in other stories. When Hercules was passing nearby, herding the cattle of Geryon back to Greece, Scylla stole some of the oxen. For this she was slain by the hero, but later was restored to life by the sea-god Phorcys. Virgil (Aeneid vi.286) stated that there were several Scyllae, who resided in the underworld.
Scylla’s parentage varies in different sources. Her father is claimed to be Phorcys, Poseidon, Triton, or Typhoeus. Her mother is most commonly identified as Crataeis, but some sources claim she is it Trienos, Hecate, Lamia, or Echidna.
Scylla’s name is related to the Greek words skyllaros (= hermit crab), skylax (= dog, dog-shark) and skyllô (= “to rend”).