by Dawn E Denmar

Created on: October 24, 2009

The story of Scylla in Greek mythology is very similar to the Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah. Scylla was the daughter of Nisa, the Egyptian ruler of Nisus and fell in love from afar with the Cretan King Minos. King Minos had laid siege to Nisus, as part of his plan to avenge the slaughter of his son Androgeus by the Athenians. Every day Scylla climbed to the top of the highest tower in the city of Nisus to watch the war, falling more and more deeply in love with the handsome Minos.

One night as her father slept, Scylla crept into his bedroom and cut off a bright lock of his hair upon which his life and throne depended. She then stole the keys to the city gate and made her way to the tents of the Cretan attackers. Finding King Minos, she boldly offered him the famed lock of her father's hair in exchange for the love of King Minos.

Minos was, of course, more than happy to strike the deal with Scylla and taking the lock of hair and keys to the city from her, he attacked the city with his army that night, killed Nisa and took over control of Nisus. Unfortunately for Scylla, Minos was not the type to view the crime of patricide lightly. Although he slept with Scylla on the night he attacked Nisus, he refused to marry her or take her back to Crete with him.

When he set sail for his return to Crete, the distraught Scylla swam after his ship, clinging to the stern in her attempt to follow him. A sea eagle, said to be the spirit of her father Nisa, swooped down to attack her. Scylla let go of the boat as the massive bird attacked and was drowned.

Some mythology goes on to state that Scylla's soul flew off in the shape of a ciris bird, a sea bird with a purple breast and red legs, whilst other myths suggest that Minos actually gave orders for Scylla to be drowned and that her soul became the fish ciris.

The city of Nisa was afterwards renamed Megara, in honour of the new King Megaraeus, who married one of Nisa's daughters.

An alternative to the above Scylla myth regards the beautiful sea nymph Scylla who was turned into a sea monster by Amphitrite, wife of Poseidon, who was jealous of his infatuation with Scylla.

Source: Robert Graves, The Greek Myths, Complete Edition

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