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Scylla facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Scylla Louvre CA1341
This ancient artwork shows Scylla with a fish tail and dog heads. It's from a vase made around 450–425 BCE.

Scylla was a scary monster from Greek mythology who lived in the sea. She was often described as the daughter of Poseidon, the god of the sea. Scylla was a bit like the many-headed Hydra, but she lived in the water. She was also known as the sister of another famous sea monster, Charybdis.

How Scylla Became a Monster

There are different stories about how Scylla became a terrifying monster. One myth says she was a daughter of Phorcys, who was a Greek god of the deep sea.

Another story tells us that Scylla was once a very beautiful fairy. The powerful sea god Poseidon liked her a lot. However, Amphitrite, Poseidon's wife, became very jealous. To get rid of her rival, Amphitrite poisoned the water where Scylla loved to swim. When Scylla entered the water, she changed into a horrible monster.

In another version, the powerful sorceress Circe was the one who turned Scylla into a monster. Circe was jealous because Scylla was loved by a sea god named Glaucus. Circe poured a special potion into the sea water. When Scylla swam in it, she transformed into a creature with four eyes and six long necks, each ending in an ugly head. Her body also had 12 tentacle-like legs and a long tail. After this, she would attack ships that sailed too close.

Scylla and Heracles

In one myth, the famous hero Heracles (also known as Hercules) met Scylla during his travels. He fought and killed her. However, the sea-god Phorcys, who was sometimes said to be her father, brought her back to life.

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See also

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