Columnæ Hercŭlis

, a name given to two mountains on the extremest parts of Spain and Africa, at the entrance into the Mediterranean. They were called Calpe and Abyla , the former on the coast of Spain, and the latter on the side of Africa, at the distance of only 18 miles. They are reckoned the boundaries of the labours of Hercules, and they were supposed to have been joined, till the hero separated them, and opened a communication between the Mediterranean and Atlantic seas.――Protei, the boundaries of Egypt, or the extent of the kingdom of Proteus. Alexandria was supposed to be built near them, though Homer places them in the island Pharos. Ody ey , bk. 4 , li. 351 .— Virgil , Æneid , bk. 11 , li. 262 .