The Pillars of Hercules (Latin: Columnae Herculis, Ancient Greek: Ἡράκλειαι Στῆλαι, romanized: Hērákleiai Stêlai, Arabic: أعمدة هرقل, romanized: Aʿmidat Hiraql, Spanish: Columnas de Hércules) was the phrase that was applied in Antiquity[1] to the promontories that flank the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. The northern Pillar, Calpe Mons, is the Rock of Gibraltar. A corresponding North African peak not being predominant, the identity of the southern Pillar, Abila Mons, has been disputed throughout history,[2] with the two most likely candidates being Monte Hacho in Ceuta and Jebel Musa in Morocco.
The European Pillar of Hercules: the Rock of Gibraltar (foreground), with the North African shore and Jebel Musa in the background.
Jebel Musa, one of the candidates for the North African Pillar of Hercules, as seen from Tarifa, at the other shore of the Strait of Gibraltar.
Jebel Musa and the Rock of Gibraltar seen from the Mediterranean Sea.
According to Greek mythology adopted by the Etruscans and Romans, when Hercules had to perform twelve labours, one of them (the tenth) was to fetch the Cattle of Geryon of the far West and bring them to Eurystheus; this marked the westward extent of his travels. A lost passage of Pindar quoted by Strabo was the earliest traceable reference in this context: "the pillars which Pindar calls the 'gates of Gades' when he asserts that they are the farthermost limits reached by Heracles".[3] Since there has been a one-to-one association between Heracles and Melqart since Herodotus, the "Pillars of Melqart" in the temple near Gades/Gádeira (modern Cádiz) have sometimes been considered to be the true Pillars of Hercules.[4]
Plato placed the fictional island of Atlantis beyond the "Pillars of Hercules".[5] Renaissance tradition says the pillars bore the warning Ne plus ultra (also Non plus ultra, "nothing further beyond"), serving as a warning to sailors and navigators to go no further.[6]
According to some Roman sources,[7] while on his way to the garden of the Hesperides on the island of Erytheia, Hercules had to cross the mountain that was once Atlas. Instead of climbing the great mountain, Hercules used his superhuman strength to smash through it. By doing so, he connected the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and formed the Strait of Gibraltar. One part of the split mountain is Gibraltar and the other is either Monte Hacho or Jebel Musa. These two mountains taken together have since then been known as the Pillars of Hercules, though other natural features have been associated with the name.[8]
Diodorus Siculus, however, held that, instead of smashing through an isthmus to create the Straits of Gibraltar, Hercules "narrowed" an already existing strait to prevent monsters from the Atlantic Ocean from entering the Mediterranean Sea.[9]
In some versions, Heracles instead built the two to hold the sky away from the earth, liberating Atlas from his damnation.[10]
Phoenician connection
Beyond Gades, several important Mauretanian colonies (in modern-day Morocco) were founded by the Phoenicians as the Phoenician merchant fleet pushed through the Pillars of Hercules and began constructing a series of bases along the Atlantic coast starting with Lixus in the north, then Chellah and finally Mogador.[11]
Near the eastern shore of the island of Gades/Gadeira (modern Cádiz, just beyond the strait) Strabo describes[12] the westernmost temple of TyrianHeracles, the god with whom Greeks associated the Phoenician and Punic Melqart, by interpretatio graeca. Strabo notes[13] that the two bronze pillars within the temple, each eight cubits high, were widely proclaimed to be the true Pillars of Hercules by many who had visited the place and had sacrificed to Heracles there. But Strabo believes the account to be fraudulent, in part noting that the inscriptions on those pillars mentioned nothing about Heracles, speaking only of the expenses incurred by the Phoenicians in their making. The columns of the Melqart temple at Tyre were also of religious significance.
The Pillars in Syriac geography
Syriac scholars were aware of the Pillars through their efforts to translate Greek scientific works into their language as well as into Arabic. The Syriac compendium of knowledge known as Ktaba d'ellat koll 'ellan (The Cause of All Causes) is unusual in asserting that there were three, not two, columns.[14]
In art
Dante's Inferno
In Inferno XXVI Dante Alighieri mentions Ulysses in the pit of the Fraudulent Counsellors and his voyage past the Pillars of Hercules. Ulysses justifies endangering his sailors by the fact that his goal is to gain knowledge of the unknown. After five months of navigation in the ocean, Ulysses sights the mountain of Purgatory but encounters a whirlwind from it that sinks his ship and all on it for their daring to approach Purgatory while alive, by their strength and wits alone.
The Pillars appear prominently on the engraved title page of Sir Francis Bacon's Instauratio Magna ("Great Renewal"), 1620, an unfinished work of which the second part was his influential Novum Organum. The motto along the base says Multi pertransibunt et augebitur scientia ("Many will pass through and knowledge will be the greater"). The image was based on the use of the pillars in Spanish and Habsburg propaganda.
In architecture
On the Spanish coast at Los Barrios are Torres de Hercules which are twin towers that were inspired by the Pillars of Hercules. These towers were the tallest in Andalusia until Cajasol Tower was completed in Seville in 2015.
The Pillars appear as supporters of the coat of arms of Spain, originating in the impresa of Spain's sixteenth century king Charles I, who was also the Holy Roman Emperor as Charles V. It was an idea of the Italian humanist Luigi Marliano.[16] It bears the motto Plus Ultra, Latin for further beyond, implying that the pillars were a gateway. This was modified from the phrase Nec plus ultra, Nothing more beyond after the discovery of the Americas, which laid to rest the idea of the Pillars of Hercules as the westernmost extremity of the inhabitable world which had prevailed since Antiquity.
Modern conjectural depiction of the lost western section of the Tabula Peutingeriana, showing a representation of the Pillars of Hercules (Columne Ercole).
^"Close to the Pillars there are two isles, one of which they call Hera's Island; moreover, there are some who call also these isles the Pillars." (Strabo, 3.5.3.); see also H. L. Jones' gloss on this line in the Loeb Classical Library.
^A lost passage of Pindar quoted by Strabo (3.5.5) was the earliest reference in this context: "the pillars which Pindar calls the 'gates of Gades' when he asserts that they are the farthermost limits reached by Heracles"; the passage in Pindar has not been traced.
^C. Michael Hogan, Mogador, Megalithic Portal, ed. Andy Burnham, 2007
^Adam C. McCollum. (2012). A Syriac Fragment from The Cause of All Causes on the Pillars of Hercules. ISAW Papers, 5. .
^. Archived from the original on 2019-05-30. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
^Giovio, Paolo (1658). Diálogo delas empresas militares y amorosas, compuesto en lengua italiana.
External links
Media related to Pillars of Hercules at Wikimedia Commons
April 06, 2023
pillars, hercules, paul, theroux, book, book, london, soho, coordinates, latin, columnae, herculis, ancient, greek, Ἡράκλειαι, Στῆλαι, romanized, hērákleiai, stêlai, arabic, أعمدة, هرقل, romanized, aʿmidat, hiraql, spanish, columnas, hércules, phrase, that, ap. For the Paul Theroux book see The Pillars of Hercules book For the London pub see Pillars of Hercules Soho Coordinates 36 0 N 5 21 W 36 000 N 5 350 W 36 000 5 350 The Pillars of Hercules Latin Columnae Herculis Ancient Greek Ἡrakleiai Stῆlai romanized Herakleiai Stelai Arabic أعمدة هرقل romanized Aʿmidat Hiraql Spanish Columnas de Hercules was the phrase that was applied in Antiquity 1 to the promontories that flank the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar The northern Pillar Calpe Mons is the Rock of Gibraltar A corresponding North African peak not being predominant the identity of the southern Pillar Abila Mons has been disputed throughout history 2 with the two most likely candidates being Monte Hacho in Ceuta and Jebel Musa in Morocco The European Pillar of Hercules the Rock of Gibraltar foreground with the North African shore and Jebel Musa in the background Jebel Musa one of the candidates for the North African Pillar of Hercules as seen from Tarifa at the other shore of the Strait of Gibraltar Jebel Musa and the Rock of Gibraltar seen from the Mediterranean Sea Contents 1 History 1 1 Phoenician connection 1 2 The Pillars in Syriac geography 2 In art 2 1 Dante s Inferno 2 2 Sir Francis Bacon s Novum Organum 2 3 In architecture 3 Coat of arms of Spain 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditAccording to Greek mythology adopted by the Etruscans and Romans when Hercules had to perform twelve labours one of them the tenth was to fetch the Cattle of Geryon of the far West and bring them to Eurystheus this marked the westward extent of his travels A lost passage of Pindar quoted by Strabo was the earliest traceable reference in this context the pillars which Pindar calls the gates of Gades when he asserts that they are the farthermost limits reached by Heracles 3 Since there has been a one to one association between Heracles and Melqart since Herodotus the Pillars of Melqart in the temple near Gades Gadeira modern Cadiz have sometimes been considered to be the true Pillars of Hercules 4 Plato placed the fictional island of Atlantis beyond the Pillars of Hercules 5 Renaissance tradition says the pillars bore the warning Ne plus ultra also Non plus ultra nothing further beyond serving as a warning to sailors and navigators to go no further 6 According to some Roman sources 7 while on his way to the garden of the Hesperides on the island of Erytheia Hercules had to cross the mountain that was once Atlas Instead of climbing the great mountain Hercules used his superhuman strength to smash through it By doing so he connected the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and formed the Strait of Gibraltar One part of the split mountain is Gibraltar and the other is either Monte Hacho or Jebel Musa These two mountains taken together have since then been known as the Pillars of Hercules though other natural features have been associated with the name 8 Diodorus Siculus however held that instead of smashing through an isthmus to create the Straits of Gibraltar Hercules narrowed an already existing strait to prevent monsters from the Atlantic Ocean from entering the Mediterranean Sea 9 In some versions Heracles instead built the two to hold the sky away from the earth liberating Atlas from his damnation 10 Phoenician connection Edit Beyond Gades several important Mauretanian colonies in modern day Morocco were founded by the Phoenicians as the Phoenician merchant fleet pushed through the Pillars of Hercules and began constructing a series of bases along the Atlantic coast starting with Lixus in the north then Chellah and finally Mogador 11 Near the eastern shore of the island of Gades Gadeira modern Cadiz just beyond the strait Strabo describes 12 the westernmost temple of Tyrian Heracles the god with whom Greeks associated the Phoenician and Punic Melqart by interpretatio graeca Strabo notes 13 that the two bronze pillars within the temple each eight cubits high were widely proclaimed to be the true Pillars of Hercules by many who had visited the place and had sacrificed to Heracles there But Strabo believes the account to be fraudulent in part noting that the inscriptions on those pillars mentioned nothing about Heracles speaking only of the expenses incurred by the Phoenicians in their making The columns of the Melqart temple at Tyre were also of religious significance The Pillars in Syriac geography Edit Syriac scholars were aware of the Pillars through their efforts to translate Greek scientific works into their language as well as into Arabic The Syriac compendium of knowledge known as Ktaba d ellat koll ellan The Cause of All Causes is unusual in asserting that there were three not two columns 14 In art EditDante s Inferno Edit In Inferno XXVI Dante Alighieri mentions Ulysses in the pit of the Fraudulent Counsellors and his voyage past the Pillars of Hercules Ulysses justifies endangering his sailors by the fact that his goal is to gain knowledge of the unknown After five months of navigation in the ocean Ulysses sights the mountain of Purgatory but encounters a whirlwind from it that sinks his ship and all on it for their daring to approach Purgatory while alive by their strength and wits alone Sir Francis Bacon s Novum Organum Edit The title page of Sir Francis Bacon s Instauratio Magna 1620 The Pillars appear prominently on the engraved title page of Sir Francis Bacon s Instauratio Magna Great Renewal 1620 an unfinished work of which the second part was his influential Novum Organum The motto along the base says Multi pertransibunt et augebitur scientia Many will pass through and knowledge will be the greater The image was based on the use of the pillars in Spanish and Habsburg propaganda In architecture Edit On the Spanish coast at Los Barrios are Torres de Hercules which are twin towers that were inspired by the Pillars of Hercules These towers were the tallest in Andalusia until Cajasol Tower was completed in Seville in 2015 In the southern wall of the National Autonomous University of Mexico s Central Library the mural Historical Representation of Culture created by the artist Juan O Gorman portrays a depiction of the Pillars of Hercules as an allusion to the colonial past of Mexico and the house of Charles V 15 Coat of arms of Spain EditThe Pillars appear as supporters of the coat of arms of Spain originating in the impresa of Spain s sixteenth century king Charles I who was also the Holy Roman Emperor as Charles V It was an idea of the Italian humanist Luigi Marliano 16 It bears the motto Plus Ultra Latin for further beyond implying that the pillars were a gateway This was modified from the phrase Nec plus ultra Nothing more beyond after the discovery of the Americas which laid to rest the idea of the Pillars of Hercules as the westernmost extremity of the inhabitable world which had prevailed since Antiquity The columns as depicted in the Spanish coat of arms Coat of arms of Spain Emblem of Andalusia Coat of arms of Extremadura Coat of arms of Melilla Seal of San Diego California Coat of arms of Veracruz Mexico Coat of arms of Tabasco Mexico Coat of arms of Trujillo Peru Coat of arms of Potosi Bolivia Coat of arms of Cadiz Coat of arms of Tumbes Peru Gallery Edit Modern conjectural depiction of the lost western section of the Tabula Peutingeriana showing a representation of the Pillars of Hercules Columne Ercole Device of Charles V in Seville s city hall Limoges enamel depicting Hercules carrying the two columns by Couly Nouailher mid 16th century Walters Art Museum Leone Leoni The Pillars of Hercules reverse Bronze 1553 4 2 cm National Gallery of Art Washington Gift of Lisa and Leonard Baskin See also EditCaves of Hercules Dollar signReferences Edit Pliny the Elder included the Pillars of Hercules in his Naturalis historia Book III 3 Strabo summarizes the dispute in Geographia 3 5 5 Strabo 3 5 5 the passage in Pindar has not been traced Burkert Walter 1985 Greek Religion Harvard University Press p 210 ISBN 978 0 674 36281 9 Retrieved 2 November 2012 Copley Jon Sea level study reveals Atlantis candidate New Scientist Retrieved 2019 12 12 Villasenor Black Charlene ed 2019 Renaissance Futurities Science Art Invention Univ of California Press p 104 ISBN 978 0520296985 Seneca Hercules Furens 235ff Seneca Hercules Oetaeus 1240 Pliny Nat Hist iii 4 Close to the Pillars there are two isles one of which they call Hera s Island moreover there are some who call also these isles the Pillars Strabo 3 5 3 see also H L Jones gloss on this line in the Loeb Classical Library Diodorus 4 18 5 A lost passage of Pindar quoted by Strabo 3 5 5 was the earliest reference in this context the pillars which Pindar calls the gates of Gades when he asserts that they are the farthermost limits reached by Heracles the passage in Pindar has not been traced C Michael Hogan Mogador Megalithic Portal ed Andy Burnham 2007 Strabo 3 5 2 3 Strabo 3 5 5 6 Adam C McCollum 2012 A Syriac Fragment from The Cause of All Causes on the Pillars of Hercules ISAW Papers 5 Biblioteca Central Archived from the original on 2019 05 30 Retrieved 2019 05 28 Giovio Paolo 1658 Dialogo delas empresas militares y amorosas compuesto en lengua italiana External links Edit Media related to Pillars of Hercules at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pillars of Hercules amp oldid 1132936351, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
