Canary Islands in Greek Myth: Elysian Fields, Islands of the Blest and Hesperides
The Canary Islands have always held a significant place in the ancient world, representing the "finis terrae" – the edge of the known world – for those scanning the horizon for the unknown.
The Canary Islands in Greek Mythology
The islands seem to be profoundly influenced by myth. One might ask why so many myths are associated with them. There are three very favorable settings for extraordinary and mythical tales: islands, mountains, and the "ends of the earth." An island is often seen as a closed universe where myth exists by itself, outside the usual laws. Mountains, similarly, develop mysteries and unusual phenomena. Until the discovery of America in the 15th century, the Canaries were indeed the western extreme of the known world.