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Adamastor is a Greek-type mythological character famed by the Portuguese poet Luís de Camões in his epic poem ''Os Lusíadas'' (first printed in 1572), as a symbol of the forces of nature Portuguese navigators had to overcome during their discoveries. ==Background== Camões gave his creation a history as one of the Gigantes of Greek mythology who had been spurned by Thetis, now appearing in the form of a threatening storm cloud to Vasco da Gama and threatening to ruin anyone hardy enough to pass the Cape and penetrate the Indian Ocean, which was Adamastor's domain. Adamastor became the ''Spirit of the Cape of Good Hope'', a hideous phantom of unearthly pallor: :"Even as I spoke, an immense shape :Materialised in the night air, :Grotesque and enormous stature :With heavy jowls, and an unkempt beard :Scowling from shrunken, hollow eyes :Its complexion earthy and pale, :Its hair grizzled and matted with clay, :Its mouth coal black, teeth yellow with decay. —Camões, ''The Lusiads'' Canto V. Adamastor represented the dangers Portuguese sailors faced when trying to round the Cape of Storms, henceforth called, in consequence of the resultant success in despite thereof, Cape of Good Hope. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Adamastor」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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