I. A celebrated rock between Italy and Sicily, opposite to Charybdis: “Scylla saxum est, Charybdis mare, utrumque noxium appulsis,” Mel. 2, 7, 14; cf.: “in eo freto est scopulus Scylla item Charybdis mare vorticosum, ambo clara saevitia,” Plin. 3, 8, 14, § 87; “whereas Seneca remarks: indices mihi omnia de Charybdi certiora. Nam Scyllam saxum esse et quidem non terribile navigantibus, optime scio: Charybdis an respondeat fabulis, perscribi mihi desidero,” Sen. Ep. 79, 1; Mel. 2, 4, 8; Prop. 3, 12 (4, 11), 28; Verg. A. 3, 420; Ov. M. 13, 730.— “Personified,” the daughter of Phorcys, transformed by Circe, through jealousy, into a sea-monster, with dogs about the haunches, Hyg. Fab. 199; Ov. M. 14, 52 sq.; Verg. A. 3, 424 sq.; Lucr. 4, 732; Tib. 3, 4, 89; Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 56, § 146; id. N. D. 1, 38, 108; cf. also II.—Hence, Scyllaeus , a, um, adj., of or belonging to Scylla, Scyllœan: “Scyllaei litoris undas,” Sil. 2, 334: “undae,” Luc. 2, 433: “antra,” Sil. 2, 306: “monstra,” Stat. S. 5, 3, 280: “rabies,” Verg. A. 1, 200.—Transf.: ne Scyllaeo illo aeris alieni in freto ad columnam adhaeresceret, Cic. Sest. 8, 18: “obloquiorum,” Sid. Ep. 7, 9.—
II. Daughter of Nisus of Megara, who, for love of Minos, cut off her father's hair, upon which his life depended, and was transformed in consequence into the bird Ciris, Hyg. Fab. 198; Ov. M. 8, 8 sq.; 8, 150 sq.; Verg. Cir. 488 sq.; Ov. Tr. 2, 393 al.—The poets (even Ovid) sometimes confound the two Scyllas, Lucr. 5, 893; Prop. 4 (5), 4, 39; Ov. Am. 3, 12, 21; id. F. 4, 500; id. R. Am. 737; Verg. E. 6, 74.—Hence, Scyllaeus , a, um, adj., Scyllœan (poet.), = Megarean: “rura,” Stat. Th. 1, 333.
