Editing Adamastor (section)

==Background==
Camões gave his creation a backstory as one of the [[Gigantes|Giants]] of [[Greek mythology]], banished to the [[Cape of Good Hope]] by sea goddess [[Doris (mythology)|Doris]] for falling in love with her daughter [[Thetis|Tethis]], now appearing out of a storm cloud and threatening to ruin anyone hardy enough to attempt passing 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:
{{blockquote|<poem>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.</poem>|Camões|''The Lusiads'' Book V}}

Vasco da Gama, ahead of the Portuguese expedition, confronts the creature by asking ''"Who are you?"'', prompting Adamastor to tell his story.

{{blockquote|<poem>I am that vast, secret promontory
you Portuguese call the Cape of Storms
which neither Ptolemy, Pompey or Strabo, 
Pliny, nor any authors knew of.
Here Africa ends. Here its coast 
Concludes in this, my vast inviolate 
Plateau, extending southwards towards the Pole
And, by your daring, struck to my very soul.</poem>|Camões|''The Lusiads'' Book V}}

Deeply moved, the giant eventually vanishes, dispersing the clouds and calming the sea, leaving the path towards [[India]] open.

Adamastor represented the dangers [[Portugal|Portuguese]] sailors faced when trying to round the Cape of Storms – ''Cabo das Tormentas'' – henceforth called the [[Cape of Good Hope]].