Re: Scylla Question

Posted by David FG on May 13, 2005

In Reply to: Scylla Question posted by Lewis on May 13, 2005

: : : : What is the meaning of "Caught between the Scylla and Charibdes"? What is "Scylla"? What is "Charibdes"?

: : : It is a reference for those classics buffs (a friend who has a 1st in classics from Oxford can hardly tie his laces and seems typical of the breed) - however, a mere mortal such as moi, knows it refers to a naval hazard - probably faced by Odysseus or somebody of that ilk. I think one was the rocks and the other a whirlpool - in any event it has come to mean the same as 'between a rock and an hard place' i.e. no safe place to be.

: : : L

: : Charybdis was a whirlpool and Scylla a rock off the coast of Sicily, according to both Homer and Horace. It does indeed mean in a place between two equal dangers.

: : DFG

: Who made the not-so-famous mythical journey through them?

: L

Odysseus (I am almost sure)

DFG

• Re: Scylla and Charybdis Smokey Stover 15/May/05 (0)