This book is dedicated to the timeless allure of the Strait of Messina, celebrating the captivating mythic figures of Scylla and Charybdis. It pays homage to ancient mariners, poets, and storytellers who immortalized these sea nymphs, weaving their tales into the fabric of the Strait. The dedication honors the intersection of myth and reality, inviting readers on a journey through the depths of the Strait and the currents that inspired these legendary stories. Ultimately, it serves as a tribute to the enduring power of tales, the wonders of the natural world, and the rich maritime history that connects us to the past.

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Since ancient times, the Strait of Messina has always been a place rich in allure and charm, significantly contributing to the creation of the many myths associated with it. Today, we are accustomed to witnessing merchant ships, weighing thousands of tons, traverse several kilometers undisturbed by currents in just a few minutes.

However it is not difficult to imagine that in the past this stretch of sea must have been considered one of the most challenging to navigate.

The navigation of the Strait, in fact, had a terrible reputation in antiquity and still poses significant challenges today, especially due to the swift and irregular currents that, colliding, create enormous whirlpools.

The most well-known are the ones that the ancients called Charybdis (she who sucks in), forming in front of Faro beach, and the other Scylla (she who tears apart), forming on the Calabrian coast from Alta Fiumara to Punta Pezzo. And indeed, Scylla and Charybdis are the two most famous mythological figures of the Strait of Messina, positioned one in front of the other. Mentioned by Homer in the Odyssey, by Virgil in the Aeneid, and by Dante in the Divine Comedy, they are two nymphs, both victims of a cruel destiny.

Scilla, the daughter of Crateide, was this stunning nymph who loved strolling along the beaches of Messina. She was as beautiful as she was vain, not easily yielding to any of her suitors. Among them was Glauco, a sea god half fish. Rejected by the nymph, the sea god seeks the help of the sorceress Circe, unaware that the sorceress herself was in love with him.

The sorceress, offended by the sea god's rejection of her court, decides to take revenge by preparing a potion based on magical herbs to pour into the spring where Scylla usually bathed.

As soon as Scylla immerses herself, her body transforms, and the lower part takes in six dogs, each with a horrific mouth and sharp teeth. These dogs have very long necks in the shape of snakes with which they can seize living beings to devour.