The Island of Hercules

See what's new on ebay in your area

The earliest known direct written mention of Lundy comes from the second century geographer, Ptolemy. He calls Lundy;- 'Heraclea' - 'Isle of Hercules.' He also names Hartland Point, the nearest point of land to Lundy;- 'Heracles Promontory' - 'The Headland of Hercules.'

The 'Columns' or 'Pillars' of Hercules stand on either side of the Straits of Gibraltar marking the passage from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. They form a significant landmark for mariners. There was a large religious community devoted to worship of Hercules in the area of the 'Columns' and most authorities agree that, given the existence of the trade routes, that there was a similar community on or near Lundy.

' Knowing as we do that there existed a powerful cult of Heracles in the neighbourhood of the Columns which bear his name, we need not be surprised that it was carried up to the British Isles.' from 'Celtic Myth and Arthurian Romance'

There is a legend that there were once Roman tiled floors visible at Hartland Point, but that they were destroyed by sea erosion of the cliffs.The remains of a temple to Hercules?

The local author Charles Kingsley refers to the remains of a Roman villa on Cattern Tor ( St. Catherine's Tor ) and also of Cloverly ( Clovelly ) as Roman.

The Island of Hercules

Hercules

Temples of Apollo

Hercules Labours

Free Tarot Readings by Alison Day