What does Odysseus do to Scylla?

As instructed by Circe, Odysseus holds his course tight against the cliffs of Scylla’s lair. As he and his men stare at Charybdis on the other side of the strait, the heads of Scylla swoop down and gobble up six of the sailors.

How does Odysseus describe Scylla?

Scylla was a supernatural female creature, with 12 feet and six heads on long snaky necks, each head having a triple row of sharklike teeth, while her loins were girdled by the heads of baying dogs. From her lair in a cave she devoured whatever ventured within reach, including six of Odysseus’s companions.

What does the Scylla represent in the Odyssey?

In Greek mythology, Scylla represents one of a choice between two evils. As Circe tells Odysseus, Scylla can’t be killed, so the only defense is to run away as quickly as possible in order to limit the damage she is able to do. As deadly as Scylla is, however, she is still the lesser of the two evils in these tales.

Does Odysseus choose Scylla or Charybdis?

Odysseus chooses to sail closer to Scylla, the six headed monster, rather than sailing near the whirlpool Charybdis. He decides that sacrificing six men to Scylla is better than chancing his entire ship to Charybdis.

What is Scylla known for?

Scylla is a big crazy sea monster. She’s most famous for munching on some of Odysseus’ crew when the hero cruised through the narrow strait where she makes her home. The giant whirlpool Charybdis is on the other side of the strait, so losing a few men to Scylla was the lesser of two evils.

How does Odysseus survive Scylla?

Odysseus survives the dangers posed by the Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis because following advice given to him from Circe. She tells him to put wax in his ears and to tie himself to the mast of the ship.

Why does Odysseus not tell his crew about Scylla?

(p. 277) Odysseus doesn’t tell his men about Scylla and Charybdis because if they know then they will probably try to fight Scylla or they will be scared. This shows his cleverness but is also a hard decision for him to make.

How did Odysseus pass Scylla the second time?

He grabbed the branch of a fig tree that grew above the whirlpool and hung there until Charybdis began to spew water.

What are Scylla’s powers?

Scylla’s powers/responsibilities since she had six heads she can devour and kill anyone. She had 12 tentacles and could take down any ship easily. Her responsibilities were pretty basic. They were to protect the waters and rocks, and ships that went to near them, had no chance.

How did Odysseus get past Scylla?

Circe advised that Odysseus sail his ship past Scylla and sacrifice six men rather than risk getting sucked down into the whirlpool and sinking. Odysseus asked if he can escape Charybdis and fight off Scylla, but Circe chastised Odysseus for his stubbornness: Scylla is immortal and can’t be defeated.