Adamastor

For the warship, see Adamastor (warship). Adamastor is a Greek-type mythological character invented by the Portuguese poet Luís de Camões in his epic poem Os Lusíadas (first printed in 1572), as a symbol of the forces of nature Portuguese navigators had to overcome during their discoveries. Camões gave his creation a history as one of the Gigantes of Greek mythology who had been spurned by Thetis, now appearing in the form of a threatening stormcloud to Vasco da Gama and threatening ruin to anyone hardy enough to pass the Cape and penetrate the Indian Ocean, which was Adamaster's domain. Adamastor became the Spirit of the Cape, a hideous phantom of unearthly pallor: "Even as I spoke, an immense shapeMaterialised in the night air,Grotesque and enormous statureWith heavy jowls, and an unkempt beardScowling from shrunken, hollow eyesIts complexion earthy and pale,Its hair grizzled and matted with clay,Its mouth coal black, teeth yellow with decay. —Camões, The Lusiads Canto V.
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[Folklore] The spirit of the Cape of Storms (Cape of Good Hope), described by Camo's (1524-1580) in the Lusiads. The spirit supposedly appeared to Vasco da Gama and foretold disaster to all attempting the voyage to India.