Editing Bosporus (section)

== In mythology ==
The Bosphorus takes its name from the [[Greek mythology|Greek mythological story]] of [[Io (mythology)|Io]], who was transformed into a cow and, pursued by a gadfly, was condemned to wander the Earth until she reached the strait. There she met the [[Titan (mythology)|Titan]] [[Prometheus]], who comforted her by telling her that she would be restored to human form by [[Zeus]] and become the ancestor of the greatest of all heroes, [[Heracles]] (Hercules).

According to [[ancient Greek mythology]], it was said that colossal floating rocks known as the [[Symplegades]], or Clashing Rocks, once guarded both sides of the Bosporus and destroyed any ship that attempted to pass through the strait by crushing them. Their destructive power was finally overcome by the Argonaut hero [[Jason]] who managed to pass between them unscathed, whereupon the rocks became fixed, opening Greek access to the Black Sea.