SCYLLA AND CHARTIVDIS. Scylla (Gr. S7cullaion), a rocky cape on the w. coast of s. Italy, jutting out boldly into the sea so as to form a small peninsula j.ist at the northern enhance to the straits of Messina. About the beginning of the 5111 c. (n.c.), a fort was built rock (which is about 200 ft. high, and much hollowed out below by the action of the waves), and in course of time a small town grew up, straggling down the slopes toward the sea. The navigation at this place was looked upon by the ancients as • attended with immense danger, which, however, seems to have been mn•ll exaggerated, for at the present risk is not more than attends the doubling of any ordinary cape. The rock, according to the Homeric legend, was the abode of a monster called Scylla, possessing 42 feet, 6.1ong necks and mouths, each with 3 rows of sharp teeth, and who barked like a dog. There are other accounts of Scylla, one of whit]] represents her as having once been a beautiful maiden, beloved by the sea-god Glaneus. but who, by the jealousy of Circe, was changed into a monster having the upper part of the body that of a woman, while the lower part consisted of the tail of a fish of serer nt surrounded by dogs. The modern Scilla or Sciglio is a fortified town in the province of Reggio
Calabria, having large silk-works, the pop. being upward of 7,400, mostly sea-faring people.
Charybdis (modern name Galofaro), is a celebrated whirlpool in the straits of Messina, nearly opposite the entrance to the harbor of Messina in Sicily, and in ancient writings always mentioned in conjunction with Scylla. The navigation of this whirlpool is, even at the present day, considered to be very dangerous, and must have been exceedingly so to the open ships of the apcients. A modern writer describes it as being agitated water of from 70 to 90 fathoms in depth, circling in quick eddies." Homer places-it immediately opposite to Scylla, probably taking advantage of the poetic license to exaggerate the danger of the navigation, although it is not improbable that the whirl pool may have changed its situation since his days. The myth connected with it is, that under a large fig-tree, which grew out of a rock opposite Scylla. dwelt the monster Charybdis, who thrice every day sucked down the water of the sea, and thrice threw it up again.
See REAPING.