Symplegades
Encyclopedia
The Symplegades or Clashing Rocks, also known as the Cyanean Rocks, were, according to Greek mythology
, a pair of rocks at the Bosphorus that clashed together randomly. They were defeated by Jason
and the Argonauts
, who would have been lost and killed by the rocks except for Phineas
' advice. Jason let a dove fly between the rocks; it lost only its tail feathers. The Argonauts rowed mightily to get through and lost only part of the stern ornament. After that, the Symplegades stopped moving permanently.
The European rock is usually identified with an islet, about 20m wide and 200m long, which stands about 100m off the shore of a village called Rumeli Feneri ('Lighthouse of Rumeli), and is connected to it by a modern concrete jetty
. At its highest point, there is an ancient altar
known as the Pillar of Pompey, though it has nothing to do with Pompey
. Dionysius of Byzantium
mentions a Roman shrine to Apollo
on one of the Cyanean Rocks, and the 16th-century French traveller Petrus Gyllius thought the altar was a remnant of that shrine.
The Asian rock is probably a reef
off the Yum Burnu
(north of Anadolu Feneri
'Lighthouse of Anatolia'), described by Gyllius:
called them cyaneae insulae 'blue islands' and in Turkish they are called Öreke Taşı 'Distaff Rock' or 'Midwife's Stool'.
:
(Πλαγκταὶ) or Wandering Rocks, which are mentioned in the Odyssey
and Apollonius of Rhodes
' Argonautica. In Apollonius's telling, the Symplegades were encountered on the way to the Golden Fleece
and the Planktai were encountered on the return voyage.
The similarities and differences between the Wandering Rocks and the Symplegades has been much debated by scholars, as have potential locations for them. (See also Geography of the Odyssey
.)
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, a pair of rocks at the Bosphorus that clashed together randomly. They were defeated by Jason
Jason
Jason was a late ancient Greek mythological hero from the late 10th Century BC, famous as the leader of the Argonauts and their quest for the Golden Fleece. He was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcus...
and the Argonauts
Argonauts
The Argonauts ) were a band of heroes in Greek mythology who, in the years before the Trojan War, accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest to find the Golden Fleece. Their name comes from their ship, the Argo, which was named after its builder, Argus. "Argonauts", therefore, literally means...
, who would have been lost and killed by the rocks except for Phineas
Phineas
In Greek mythology, Phineas was a Phoenician King of Thrace.The name 'Phineas' or 'Phineus' may be associated with the ancient city of Phinea on the Thracian Bosphorus.-Phineas, Son of Agenor:...
' advice. Jason let a dove fly between the rocks; it lost only its tail feathers. The Argonauts rowed mightily to get through and lost only part of the stern ornament. After that, the Symplegades stopped moving permanently.
The European rock is usually identified with an islet, about 20m wide and 200m long, which stands about 100m off the shore of a village called Rumeli Feneri ('Lighthouse of Rumeli), and is connected to it by a modern concrete jetty
Jetty
A jetty is any of a variety of structures used in river, dock, and maritime works that are generally carried out in pairs from river banks, or in continuation of river channels at their outlets into deep water; or out into docks, and outside their entrances; or for forming basins along the...
. At its highest point, there is an ancient altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
known as the Pillar of Pompey, though it has nothing to do with Pompey
Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey or Pompey the Great , was a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic...
. Dionysius of Byzantium
Dionysius of Byzantium
Dionysius of Byzantium was a Greek geographer of the 2nd century CE....
mentions a Roman shrine to Apollo
Apollo
Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in Greek and Roman mythology...
on one of the Cyanean Rocks, and the 16th-century French traveller Petrus Gyllius thought the altar was a remnant of that shrine.
The Asian rock is probably a reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
off the Yum Burnu
Yum Burnu
Yum Burnu , the ancient Ancyræan Cape or Ancyræan Promontory and the modern Greek Cape Psomion, is the cape at the northeast end of the Bosphorus, where it enters the Black Sea....
(north of Anadolu Feneri
Anadolu Feneri
Anadolu Feneri is a historical lighthouse still in use, which is located on the Asian side of Bosphorus' Black Sea entrance in Istanbul, Turkey. Anadolu is the Turkish name for Anatolia. It is across from the lighthouse Rumeli Feneri, which is on the European side of the strait at a distance of...
'Lighthouse of Anatolia'), described by Gyllius:
The reef is divided into four rocks above water which, however, are joined below; it is separated from the continent by a narrow channel filled with many stones, by which as by a staircase one can cross the channel with dry feet when the sea is calm; but when the sea is rough, waves surround the four rocks into which I said the reef is divided. Three of these are low and more or less submerged, but the middle one is higher than the European rock, sloping up to an acute point and roundish right up to its summit; it is splashed by the waves but not submerged and is everywhere precipitous and straight."
Names
The RomansRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
called them cyaneae insulae 'blue islands' and in Turkish they are called Öreke Taşı 'Distaff Rock' or 'Midwife's Stool'.
In literature
Lord Byron refers to the Symplegades in the concluding stanzas of Childe Harold's PilgrimageChilde Harold's Pilgrimage
Childe Harold's Pilgrimage is a lengthy narrative poem in four parts written by Lord Byron. It was published between 1812 and 1818 and is dedicated to "Ianthe". The poem describes the travels and reflections of a world-weary young man who, disillusioned with a life of pleasure and revelry, looks...
:
- And from the Alban Mount we now behold
- Our friend of youth, that ocean, which when we
- Beheld it last by Calp's rock unfold
- Those waves, we follow on till the dark Euxine roll'd
- Upon the blue Symplegades …
The Wandering Rocks
The Symplegades are sometimes identified with (or confused with) the PlanctaePlanctae
In Greek mythology, the Planctae or Wandering Rocks were a group of rocks, between which the sea was mercilessly violent. The Argo was the only ship to navigate them successfully...
(Πλαγκταὶ) or Wandering Rocks, which are mentioned in the Odyssey
Odyssey
The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of Western literature...
and Apollonius of Rhodes
Apollonius of Rhodes
Apollonius Rhodius, also known as Apollonius of Rhodes , early 3rd century BCE – after 246 BCE, was a poet, and a librarian at the Library of Alexandria...
' Argonautica. In Apollonius's telling, the Symplegades were encountered on the way to the Golden Fleece
Golden Fleece
In Greek mythology, the Golden Fleece is the fleece of the gold-haired winged ram, which can be procured in Colchis. It figures in the tale of Jason and his band of Argonauts, who set out on a quest by order of King Pelias for the fleece in order to place Jason rightfully on the throne of Iolcus...
and the Planktai were encountered on the return voyage.
The similarities and differences between the Wandering Rocks and the Symplegades has been much debated by scholars, as have potential locations for them. (See also Geography of the Odyssey
Geography of the Odyssey
Events in the main sequence of the Odyssey take place in the Peloponnese and in what are now called the Ionian Islands . Incidental mentions of Troy and its house Phoenicia, Egypt and Crete hint at geographical knowledge equal to, or perhaps slightly more extensive than that of the Iliad...
.)
External links
- http://www.mythweb.com/encyc/entries/symplegades.html
- http://livingheritage.org/symplegades.htm
- http://www.eaudrey.com/myth/Places/symplegades.htm
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/zedstar/sets/72157626285690691/detail/