- The Strait of Messina, known to the Romans as Fretum Siculum, is a narrow sea between Messina, Sicily and Reggio Calabria, Italy, which connects the Tyrrhenian Sea with the Ionian Sea.
- At its narrowest point, it is 1.9 miles (3.1 km) wide, and 830 feet (250 m) deep. The Strait was a hazard to ancient shipping, as it has fast moving currents and dangerous whirlpools to be navigated.
Greek Mythology
- It was thought to be the location for the whirlpool in Homer‘s Odyssey Book XII.
- Odysseus has to sail Between Scylla and Charybdis, and is advised to sail closer to the six headed monster, Scylla, and lose only part of his crew, rather than sail close to Charybdis, the whirlpool, and lose the whole vessel.
Strait of Messina