Commentary
In the Homeric epic “Odyssey,” the hero Odysseus navigates the storms of the “wine-dark sea,” seeking to return to his home and family after many years of war-fighting. He must first pass through a narrow strait of water, one with dangers on both sides. To the left is Scylla, a monster living in the rocky cliffs, capturing and devouring passing sailors. On the other side is Charybdis, a deadly whirlpool capable of engulfing Odysseus and his men and destroying his ship.
