- For other uses, see Charybdis.
Charybdis was a large, octopus-like, aquatic lifeform who lived in the time of Ancient Greece and the Trojan War. He was described by Homer in the Odyssey.
Charybdis, known as “the whirlpool beast” of Greek mythology, lived near a large reptilian animal named Scylla.
History
During Ulysses’ ten-year journey home after the events of the Trojan War, he survived encounters with Charybdis and Scylla, as well as the Cyclops, Aeolus, cannibals, and the Sirens. These challenges were orchestrated by omnipotent Beings, including Zeus. (TOS comic: "What Fools These Mortals Be..")
The loss of namesake ESS Charybdis was among events that inspired the creation of warp drive for Zefram Cochrane. (ST short story: "The Immortality Blues")
In the year 2267, the USS Enterprise discovered Zeus, Aeolus and four other Beings. They resided in Mount Olympus, but had opened a dimensional warp to a planetoid and reformed it to resemble Ancient Greece. The Beings challenged James T. Kirk, Leonard McCoy, and Spock to survive the confrontations Ulysses had faced millennia ago, which the landing party recognized from the Odyssey. After fleeing from Aeolus aboard a small sailing ship, they encountered Scylla and Charybdis. Repeated phaser fire set to de-materialize was able to repel the giant creatures. (TOS comic: "What Fools These Mortals Be..")
While talking to Tuvok and Nyota Uhura, Christina Schulman recalled the actions of Charybdis attacking ancient Roman and Greek vessels. (TOS - The Captain's Table novel: War Dragons)
In 2410, a situation resembling the ancient myth occurred when the Tzenkethi began a genocidal war upon the Hur'q. The two sides fought, resulting in a catastrophic ravaging of Deep Space 9. (STO mission: "Scylla and Charybdis")
Appendices
References
- TOS comic: "What Fools These Mortals Be.."
- TOS - The Captain's Table novel: War Dragons
- STO mission: "Scylla and Charybdis"