Scylla was once a beautiful maiden until she was changed into a snakelike monster by the sorceress Circe. She lived in a cave high up on a cliff, from where she was known to thrust forth her long necks (she had six heads), and in each of her mouths seize one of the crew of every vessel passing within reach. According to legend, she murdered six of the companions of Ulysses, and tried to wreck the ships of Aeneas until she was turned into a rock.