Figure of Skylla at The British Museum, London

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In ancient Greek mythology, Scylla was a fearsome monster that resided on one side of a narrow waterway, directly opposite her arch-nemesis Charybdis. The two shores of the strait were precariously close to each other – so near that sailors attempting to evade Charybdis would inevitably sail too close to Scylla and vice versa. Scylla made her first appearance in Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, where Odysseus and his crew encountered her and Charybdis on their perilous journey. Later mythology revealed an origin story for Scylla as a stunningly beautiful nymph who was transformed into a monster. The strait where Scylla dwelled has been linked to the Strait of Messina between Italy and Sicily. The phrase "between Scylla and Charybdis" has become synonymous with being forced to choose between two equally treacherous situations. The origin story of Scylla varies depending on the author: In Virgil's Aeneid, Scylla was a lovely naiad who was coveted by Poseidon but transformed into a monster by Amphitrite's jealousy, which was triggered by the pollution of a spring where Scylla would bathe. Similarly, in Hyginus' account, Scylla was loved by Glaucus but also desired by the sorceress Circe. While Scylla bathed in the sea, Circe secretly poured a potion into the water, causing Scylla to transform into a monstrous creature with four eyes and six long legs equipped with gruesome heads, each containing three rows of razor-sharp teeth. Her body consisted of 12 tentacle-like legs and a cat's tail, while four to six dog-heads encircled her waist. In this terrifying form, she attacked the ships of passing sailors, seizing one crew member with each of her heads. This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for public access at no cost. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help.