Pillars of Hercules - Pillars As Portals

Pillars As Portals

• Device of Charles V in Seville's city hall.

• The columns as depicted in the Spanish coat of arms.

The Pillars appear as supporters of the coat of arms of Spain, originating from the famous impresa of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, who was King of Spain in the years following the discovery of the Americas. It bears the motto Plus Ultra (Latin for further beyond), encouraging him to ignore the ancient warning, to take risks and go further beyond. It indicates the desire to see the Pillars as an entrance to the rest of the world rather than as a gate to the Mediterranean Sea. It also indicates the overseas possessions that Spain had.

One of the commonly held theories about the origin of the dollar sign derives it from the above personal device, which appeared on the Spanish dollar from which the American one was derived - thus, the two vertical lines on the Dollar Sign ultimately represent the Pillars of Hercules.