Caves of Hercules
Caves of Hercules | |
---|---|
Location | Cape Spartel, Morocco |
Coordinates | 35°45′37″N 05°56′21″W / 35.76028°N 5.93917°W[1] |
Geology | Limestone |
Entrances | 2[1] |
Show cave opened | 1920[1] |
Lighting | Electric[1] |
The Caves of Hercules is an archaeological cave complex located in Cape Spartel, Morocco.
Location
Situated 14 kilometres (9 mi) west of Tangier, the popular tourist attraction is adjacent to the summer palace of the King of Morocco.
Topography
The cave has two openings, one to the sea and one to land. The sea opening is known as "The Map of Africa." It is believed that the
The cave itself is part natural and part man-made. The man-made part was used by
Legend
The cave was long thought to be bottomless. It was believed that the cave is one end of a subterranean
Mythological tradition also holds that the
According to some Roman sources,[7] while on his way to the garden of the Hesperides, 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 in Ceuta or Jebel Musa (known as the Mons Abyla in classical times) in Morocco.[8] 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.[9] Diodorus Siculus,[10] 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.
The Greek mythology version is that Heracles went to Atlas and offered to hold up the heavens while Atlas got the apples from the garden of his daughters, the Hesperides which was also guarded by the dragon Ladon. Upon his return with the apples, however, Atlas attempted to trick Heracles into carrying the sky permanently by offering to deliver the apples himself, as anyone who purposely took the burden must carry it forever, or until someone else took it away. Heracles, suspecting Atlas did not intend to return, pretended to agree to Atlas' offer, asking only that Atlas take the sky again for a few minutes so Heracles could rearrange his cloak as padding on his shoulders. When Atlas set down the apples and took the heavens upon his shoulders again, Heracles took the apples and ran away.
History
In 6000 BC, the Caves of Hercules were inhabited by Neolithic people.
In 1920, the caves were officially opened to the public. They were declared a National Heritage site in 1952. In 1982, electric lights were installed in the caves.
In 1986, the ashes of Brion Gysin, a renowned artist and writer, were scattered in the caves.[11]
On October 23, 1995, British rock group
On 20 December 2003, the caves were closed to the public due to a rockfall caused by nearby construction work, necessitating repairs and ensuring visitor safety. In January 2004, the caves were reopened to the public.[13] In October 2015, the caves reopened after a renovation commissioned by King Mohammed VI.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Duckeck, Jochen. "Grottes d'Hercules". Show Caves of the World. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ISBN 978-1741049718.
- ^ "Visit Gibraltar". Visit Gibraltar.
- ^ "Grottes D'Hercule "Cave of Hercules" in Morocco". Archived from the original on 2011-11-17. Retrieved 2013-07-05.
- ^ "Morocco.com | Grottoes of Hercules, Tangier". www.morocco.com. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
- ^ "Caves of Hercules". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
- ^ Seneca, Hercules Furens 235ff.; Seneca, Hercules Oetaeus 1240; Pliny, Nat. Hist. iii.4.
- ^ "GIBRALTAR NEANDERTHAL CAVES AND ENVIRONMENTS" (PDF). World Heritage Site Nomination. 1: Nomination Dossier.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Felicity Mason/Anne Cumming – A Brief Biography and Interview – Jennie Skerl". European Beat Studies Network. 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
- ^ "Tangier: Hercules Cave (Grottes d'Hercules)". Retrieved 2013-07-05. "AP Archive".
- ^ MATIN, LE. "La réouverture au public est prévu cette semaine : les Grottes d'Hercule de Tanger ne présentent aucun danger pour les visiteurs". lematin.ma (in French). Retrieved 2023-06-07.