Adamastor is a mythological character created by the Portuguese poet Luís de Camões in his epic poem Os Lusíadas, as a personification of the Cape of Good Hope, symbolizing the dangers of the sea and the formidable forces of nature challenged and ultimately overcome by the Portuguese during the Age of Discovery. Adamastor manifests itself out of a storm.
Statue of Adamastor by Júlio Vaz Júnior, unveiled in 1927 at the Santa Catarina viewpoint, Lisbon, Portugal
The corresponding verses in the 1572 edition.
Luís Vaz de Camões, sometimes rendered in English as Camoens or Camoëns, is considered Portugal's and the Portuguese language's greatest poet. His mastery of verse has been compared to that of Shakespeare, Milton, Vondel, Homer, Virgil and Dante. He wrote a considerable amount of lyrical poetry and drama but is best remembered for his epic work Os Lusíadas. His collection of poetry The Parnasum of Luís de Camões was lost during his life. The influence of his masterpiece Os Lusíadas is so profound that Portuguese is sometimes called the "language of Camões".
Portrait c. 1577
Camões, early 20th century depiction
Camões in Goa prison, in anonymous painting from 1556
Camões in the cave of Macau, in an engraving by Desenne, 1817