What is Scylla and Charybdis in the Odyssey about?
Scylla and Charybdis, in Greek mythology, two immortal and irresistible monsters who beset the narrow waters traversed by the hero Odysseus in his wanderings described in Homer’s Odyssey, Book XII.
How is Scylla Charybdis described?
In classical mythology, Scylla was a horrible six-headed monster who lived on a rock on one side of a narrow strait. Charybdis was a whirlpool on the other side. When ships passed close to Scylla’s rock in order to avoid Charybdis, she would seize and devour their sailors.
What happened with Scylla and Charybdis in the Odyssey?
The Odyssey Odysseus faced both Charybdis and Scylla while rowing through a narrow channel. He ordered his men to avoid Charybdis, thus forcing them to pass near Scylla, which resulted in the deaths of six of his men. Later, stranded on a raft, Odysseus was swept back through the strait and passed near Charybdis.
How does Homer describe Scylla in Odyssey?
SKYLLA (Scylla) was a sea-monster who haunted the rocks of a narrow strait opposite the whirlpool of Kharybdis (Charybdis). Homer describes Skylla as a creature with twelve dangling feet, six long necks and grisly heads lined with a triple row of sharp teeth. Her voice was likened to the yelping of dogs.
Why does Odysseus fight Scylla and Charybdis?
Circe advises him to choose Scylla’s violence over the whirlpool of Charybdis, but Odysseus wants the glory of repeating the Argo’s amazing achievement and fight them off: a plan that risks the lives of the crewmen and shows disrespect to the gods.
Does Odysseus choose Charybdis or Scylla?
Scylla, while still a terrible monster is less destructive. This six-headed beast is only capable of devouring six sailors at a time. On Circe’s advice, Odysseus chooses the root that allows the majority of his crew to survive, at the terrible cost of six of his strongest men.
Does Odysseus choose Charybdis and Scylla?
Some of these obstacles are simply unpleasant: Odysseus would rather avoid Scylla and Charybdis altogether, but he cannot—they stand in his way, leaving him no choice but to navigate a path through them.