In Scylla and Charybdis

They were travelling midway, when they saw in the distance an alley they had to cross. Then Odysseus remembered what Tiresias had told him. There were the terrible waters where the two beasts, Scylla and Charybdis, lurked.

They had to pass through the narrow passage formed by two huge and steep rocks.

Charybdis

But that wasn't all. On a rock, low down, was a terrible monster with a huge mouth, which sucked the sea three times a day and three times vomited it up. And woe to the ship that was passing through the straits at that hour.

Scylla

On the other rock higher up, another strange monster was emerging from a cave. It was like a giant dog with six heads on long necks, with terrible teeth, and it barked like a puppy dog. When a ship came by, the six heads would bend down, and grab with their terrible teeth, whoever they found in front of them.

They escape from Charybdis ....

Tiresias had, of course, taken Odysseus by force, what to do. He had told him that they should wait and pass the time when Charybdis was about to vomit up the sea.

So they approached and waited anxiously for the time. And when Charybdis began to vomit into the sea, they pulled a quick oar, and entered the strait.

But not from Scylla

It was then that they heard a barking like that of a small dog, and suddenly they felt six shadows bending over their heads. And they heard heartbreaking voices. They raised their heads and saw six of their companions writhing in Scylla's terrible teeth.

Trip continuation

The ship, meanwhile, was passing the strait like a shuttle, and after a while, it was far from the terrible monsters. But they had again lost six of their companions. And sadly they continued their tortured journey.