Pillars of Hercules

American  

plural noun

1. the two promontories on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar: the Rock of Gibraltar in Europe and the Jebel Musa in Africa; fabled to have been raised by Hercules.

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Pillars of Hercules British  

plural noun

1. the two promontories at the E end of the Strait of Gibraltar: the Rock of Gibraltar on the European side and the Jebel Musa on the African side; according to legend, formed by Hercules

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Example Sentences

Ceuta, perched on an isthmus with a promontory historically considered the lesser of the Pillars of Hercules of antiquity, has been a Spanish possession since 1580.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 5, 2022

Now their two peaks form a gate like the Pillars of Hercules, marking a way into a certain kind of American reality, as well as a bit of Sierra backcountry.

From Slate • Oct. 22, 2014

In place of the ivory tower, James gravitated to the pub, the celebrated Pillars of Hercules – centre of the 1970s Grub Street of Ian Hamilton, Karl Miller and Terry Kilmartin.

From The Guardian • Jul. 5, 2013

In fact, both rocks are the actual Pillars of Hercules known to the ancients, named after the legendary hero because they marked the westernmost extent of his 12 Labors.

From New York Times • Jan. 3, 2012

Since they’d left the Pillars of Hercules yesterday evening, Jason had seemed distracted.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan