The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-12-23
THE STRAIT OF. MESSINA.
And the Ancient Legends Of SeyIIa and
Charybdis.

ana TIC ancient LEGENDS OF ScytIa ana
Charybdis.
The Sicilian' and Italian banks which
border the strait of Messina for nearly
twenty-five miles to the east and west
are among the most ]uxuriant to be-
found in a cruise of the Mediterranean.
Magnificent golden groves of lemon
and orange and orchards Of pomegran-
ate, with their brilliant red fruit, con-
trast Wonderfully with the flowers Of
the almond trees which perfume the
whole region.
The strait is entered from the Tyrrhe-'
MAN sea, on the NORTH at the narrow
est point, the distance between Punta
del Faro, Gu the Siciiian shore, and the
mainland lighthouse on punta Pezzo
being not more than two miles. The
whole of the Calabrian coast is thiclziy
sown with villages, some clinging TO-
the beach. while others Chamber up the
sides Of we'll wooded hills which Gull
inmate in the towering Montalto, ris-7
ing to an elevation Of more than a mile
above the sea. Beyond the strait to-
the southwest looms ever threatening
Etna, the highest volcano in Europe.
The most important city. situated on
the strait is the once magnificent sea
port Of Messfna. which boosted popu
lation of 10000 Inhabitants before
"the worlds most crueI earthquake' Of
Dec %, 1905 tossed nearly 1O0,0eO
lives away.
The harbor of .Messzma is the largest;
and safest in the kingdom of Italy,.
with depth Of more than thirty faith;
oms Before the great calamity it was
visited annually by more than 5,O00j
vessels, which brought cargoes> of
wheat, cotton, wool ana hardware and
took away in exchanges lemons, or
anges, almonds, wines,. olive OH and
silks. Much Of its commerce was and
still is carried Oh with the mainland Of
the kingdom by means eff a ferry line
to Villa San: Glow ami, only four and
half miles away, while Reggie, the
chief seaport on tie Ital7an side of the
strait and also the chief earthquake
sufferer next to, Messina,. is ten miles
to the southeast. Ferryboats ply be-
tween these points too. SciTfa, Fare,
Catona, Pellaro, Scallita and Ga1ati are
minor towns on the shores of the strait.
Homer did not accord q definite habl-
tation for His terrible sea creatures,
Scylla and Charybdis, bazh mariners IA
miliar with. the perils ct the rocks on
the italian side Of the: strait and with
the strong eddies near the Marb0r OF
Messina saw in the my thicaE monsters
an explanation of such dangers Scylla
was supposed to- be a horrible creature
with six heads and a dozen feet, who
barked like & dog She dwelt in a
lofty cave;~ from which she rushed
whenever ship. tried to pass beneath,
and she would snatch the unlucky sea-
men frona the rigging or as they stood
at the helm; endeavoring to guide their
vessels through the peri1ous passage.
Charybdfs: dwe1t under a; rock, only a.
bowshot away, on. the opposite shore:
The second creature sucked: in and!
blew ont sea water three times a day.
and woe to the ship caught in the
maelstrom of it's mouth!
.fOeCS WHO cdmc dACeE Cue' SA00A
Greek bard embroidered: the legend to
| suit their fancy. Ovid. for example,
described Scylla as the beautiful
daughter of a sea god who: Incurred
the jealousy of one Of the immortals
! and who was changed into q sea mon
ster.. A second transforma ton made
her a rock perilous TO- navigators- Some
poets described Charybdis as an old
| woman who seized and devOured the
cattle of Hercules, and In punishment
for this act the demigod's father. all
powerful Zeus, cast her into the sea,
where her appetite persisted, but her
tastes changed from cattle to ships and
seamen.- National Geographic Society
Bulletin.