ScyllaCrataeisANCIENT_Hyginus



Hyginus in Fabulae disambiguates between four Scyllae, i.e.
1) Scylla Crataeidis filia — praef.. 17, 39, CXXV.14, CLI.1, and CXCIX;
2) Scylla Danai filia — CLXX.1;
3) Scylla navis — CCLXXIII.15; 4) Scylla Nisi filia — CXCVIII.2 & 4, CCLV.1

This article treats only the texts for Scylla, the daughter of Crataeis.

Hyginus Fabulae, Praefatio 17:
As offspring of the giant Pallas and Styx were born Scylla, Might, Envy, Power, Victory, springs and lakes.
id., Praefatio 39:
Offspring of Typhon and Echidna were born the Gorgon, Cerberus, the dragon that guarded the Golden Fleece of the ram at Cholchis, Scylla who had the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a dog (Hercules slew her), the Chimaera, the sphinx that was in Boetia, the Hydra serpent of nine heads (Hercules slew her, too), and the dragon of the Hesperides.

id., cap. 125.14:
Ulysses then went to Scylla, Typhon's daughter who had the torso of a woman and in her lower extremities she was a fish from her groin down, she had six dogs as her offspring. She snatched and devoured six men from Ulysses' ship.

id. cap. 151: Children of Typhon and Echidna
From the giant Typhon and Echidna were born the Gorgon, the three-headed dog Cerberus, the dragon which watched the Apples of the Hesperides on the other side the ocean, the Hydra which Hercules slew at the spring of Lerna, the dragon which kept watch over the fleece of the ram at Colchis, the Sphinx that was in Boeotia, the Chimaera of Lycia having the front of a lion's form, then rear of a dragon, and the Chimaera itself in the middle. The offspring of Medusa, the Gorgon's daughter, and Neptune were Chrysaor and the horse Pegasus; offspring of Chrysaor and Callirhoe was the three-bodied Geryon.

id. cap. 199: the other Scylla
Scylla, daughter of the river Crataeis, was said to be an extremely beautiful girl. Glaucus loved her, but Circe the daughter of the Sun loved Glaucus. Scylla used to bathe in the sea, but Circe the daughter of the Sun was jealous and poisoned the water with potions. When Scylla had gotten into the water, dogs sprang from her loins and and she became monstrous. She passed along the injuries done to her, for she plundered sailors from Ulysses' crew. Hyginus Fabulae,

     — translation RTMacfarlane


     Praefatio 17: Ex Pallante gigante et Styge [natae sunt] Scylla Vis Invidia Potestas Victoria Fontes Lacus


     Praefatio 39: Ex Typhone et Echidna [nati sunt] Gorgon, Cerberus, draco qui pellem auream arietis Colchis servabat, Scylla quae superiorem partem feminae, inferiorem canis habuit, quam Hercules interemit, Chimaera, Sphinx quae fuit in Boeotia, Hydra serpens quae novem capita habuit, quam Hercules interemit, et draco Hesperidum.


     cap. CXXV.14: Inde ad Scyllam Typhonis filiam venit [Vlysses], quae superiorem corporis muliebram, inferiorem ab inguine piscis, et sex canes ex se natos habebat; eaque sex socios Vlyxis nave abreptos consumpsit.


     cap. CLI: ex typhone et echidna nati.
     Ex Typhone gigante et Echidna Gorgon, canis Cerberus triceps, draco qui mala Hesperidum trans oceanum seruabat, hydra quam ad fontem Lernaeum Hercules interfecit, draco qui pellem arietis Colchis seruabat, Scylla quae superiorem partem mulieris, inferiorem canis et canes sex ex se natos habebat, Sphinx quae in Boeotia fuit, Chimaera in Lycia quae priorem partem leonis figuram, posteriorem draconis habebat, media ipsa Chimaera. (2) ex Medusa Gorgonis filia et Neptuno nati sunt Chrysaor et equus Pegasus; ex Chrysaore et Callirhoe Geryon trimembris.


     cap. CXCIX: scylla altera.
Scylla Crataeidis fluminis filia uirgo formosissima dicitur fuisse. hanc Glaucus amauit, Glaucum autem Circe Solis filia. (2) Scylla autem cum assueta esset in mari lauari, Circe Solis filia propter zelum medicamentis aquam inquinauit, quo Scylla cum descendisset, ab inguinibus eius canes sunt nati atque ferox facta; quae iniurias suas exsecuta est, nam Vlyssem praenauigantem sociis spoliauit.      — translation RTMacfarlane