<P> Scylla and Charybdis were mythical sea monsters noted by Homer ; Greek mythology sited them on opposite sides of the Strait of Messina between Sicily and the Italian mainland . Scylla was rationalized as a rock shoal ( described as a six - headed sea monster ) on the Italian side of the strait and Charybdis was a whirlpool off the coast of Sicily . They were regarded as a sea hazard located close enough to each other that they posed an inescapable threat to passing sailors ; avoiding Charybdis meant passing too close to Scylla and vice versa . According to Homer , Odysseus was forced to choose which monster to confront while passing through the strait ; he opted to pass by Scylla and lose only a few sailors , rather than risk the loss of his entire ship in the whirlpool . </P>
<P> Scylla and Charybdis were mythical sea monsters noted by Homer ; Greek mythology sited them on opposite sides of the Strait of Messina between Sicily and the Italian mainland . Scylla was rationalized as a rock shoal ( described as a six - headed sea monster ) on the Italian side of the strait and Charybdis was a whirlpool off the coast of Sicily . They were regarded as a sea hazard located close enough to each other that they posed an inescapable threat to passing sailors ; avoiding Charybdis meant passing too close to Scylla and vice versa . According to Homer , Odysseus was forced to choose which monster to confront while passing through the strait ; he opted to pass by Scylla and lose only a few sailors , rather than risk the loss of his entire ship in the whirlpool . </P>
where is scylla and charybdis located in the odyssey
where is scylla and charybdis located in the odyssey
on opposite sides of the Strait of Messina between Sicily and the Italian mainland
on opposite sides of the Strait of Messina between Sicily and the Italian mainland