In Greek mythology, the Symplegades were a pair of rocks at the Hellespont that clashed together randomly. They were defeated by Jason and the Argonauts, who would have been lost and killed by the rocks except for Phineas' advice. Jason let a dove fly between the rocks; it lost only its tail feathers. The Argonauts rowed mightily to get through and lost only part of the stern ornament. After that, the Symplegades stopped moving permanently.
The Symplegades are the "Clashing Rocks" through which the Argo had to pass in order to enter the Hellespont.
Jason and his Argonauts then rowed mightily through the passage, and the Argo made the hazardous trip safely, losing only a piece of her stern ornament.
Article "Symplegades" created on 03 March 1997; last modified on 11 May 1997 (Revision 2).
The Argonauts saved a Thracian king, Phineus, from starvation caused by the Harpies, flying creatures with the heads of old women and the bodies of birds, who were carrying off and befouling his food.
In gratitude, Phineus told them how to pass through the Symplegades, the rocks that guarded the entrance to the Euxine Sea by clashing against each other when anything went between them.
As Phineus had instructed them, the Argonauts released a dove that flew between the Symplegades.
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