Have you ever found yourself in a hopeless situation? A position which seemed to have no solution or any potential solution seemed unfavorable? Everybody has. 

In a situation like this, in Poland we say ‘być między młotem, a kowadłem’. Derived from the Odyssey, we have another saying which means exactly the same.

Here we go with the legend which gave rise to the saying and explains its origin. 

Long time ago, near the sea waters of the Apennin Peninsula, lived a humble fisherman Glauco. One day, after  chewing some magical plants, he became immortal and his appearance changed. His beard and hair became  dark green and looked like seaweeds. His legs changed into a tail like that of a huge fish. Unable to stay longer on land, he submerged himself into the sea, where he received divinity. From now on, Glauco lived in water bathing joyfully in different sea currents.

Scylla was a beautiful nymph who lived near the waters of the strait of Messina. Once Glauco saw her beauty, he fell in love with her and wanted her for his wife, but she was appalled by his fish-like features and fled onto land when he tried to approach her.

Glauco was desperate and seeking for help, he went to the magician Circe. He asked the witch for a potion to make Scylla fall in love with him, but his request had the opposite result. Circe fell in love with Glauco. She tried to win his heart with her most passionate and loving words, telling him to scorn Scylla and stay with her. But he replied and said he would never stop loving Scylla. 

Circe really loved the new sea god – Glauco. Now, being aware that she wouldn’t win his love, in her anger and envy, Circe poisoned the pool where Scylla bathed, transforming her into a terrible monster. 

Now, Scylla had a woman's torso and a fish's tail, around the waist she had six snaky bodies with  dogs’ heads barking and growling fiercely.

Scylla and Glauco never loved each other. Sadly, envy and passion revealed their destructive powers and love was defeated by evil emotions.

The monster Scylla hid in the waters of the strait of Messina and lived there opposite Caribdi - a big marine creature created by Zeus. Caribdi could swallow and reject the sea water, she could belch water and she could cause deadly hurricanes.

Due to the presence of the two sea monsters, the strait of Messina threatened sailors. Caribdi and Scylla made their flesh creep. It was either Caribdi who changed the waters into whirlpool, or Scylla who  devoured them with her doggy mouths.

The deadly powers of both creatures were also depicted in Homer’s Odyssey and their echo is still alive. When? While being in a desperate position, we say that we are between Scylla and Caribdi.