List of Martian canals explained

This is an incomplete list of Martian canals from the erroneous belief in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that "Martian canals" existed on the surface of the red planet.[1] [2] These canals were named by Giovanni Schiaparelli and Percival Lowell, amongst others, after real and legendary rivers of various places on Earth or the mythological underworld. A partial list of names are provided below with the regions that the canals were thought to connect.[3] [4]

A

NamePronunciationLocationˈSource of name
Acalandrus From a stream in Lucania, Italy, now called Calandro
Acampsis From a river in Pontus that flowed into the Black Sea, now called Çoruh/Chorokhi
Acesines From a Sicilian river, now called Cantara; also the name of Chenab, one of the rivers of the Punjab
Achana From a river in northern Arabia
Achates From a Sicilian river now called the Drillo, in which agates were found
Acheloüs From Achelous, a river in western Greece
Acheron From Acheron, both a real river in Epirus and a mythical river of Hades
Acis From a Sicilian river now called Fiume di Iaci
Aeacus N to S: runs through Cebrenia to the junction of Styx and Boreas canals
Aeolus From Aeolus, keeper of the winds in Greek mythology
Aesis From an Italian river, now called Fiumesino
Aethiops Means "the Ethiopian"
Agathodaemon N to S: connects Tithonius Lacus to Aonius Sinus, opposite Protei Regio; just W of Aurea Cherso Means "good spirit"
Alcyonius
Alpheus Runs NS through Hellas From the river Alpheios in the Peloponnesus of Greece
Ambrosia S to N: connects Solis Lacus with Bosphorus Gemmatus, running through Thaumasia From ambrosia, the legendary food of the gods
Amenthes
Amphrysus From a Thessalian river, now called Armiro
Amystis From a river of India
Anapus From an Acarnanian or Sicilian river
Anian After the Strait of Anián, a mythical water passage in the American northwest
Antaeus NW to SE: from the junction of Cerberus and Eunostos canals to the Atlantis region From Antaeus, son of Earth, a gigantic opponent of Heracles
Anubis From the Egyptian god Anubis
Apis From the Egyptian god Apis
Araxes E to W: connects Phoenicis Lacus with the E end of Mare Sirenum From Araxes, a river in eastern Anatolia, northern Iran
Argaeus Flows S from pole to junction of Pyramus and Pierius canals
Arges
Arnon N to S: connects Arethusa Lacus to Ismenius Lacus From the small river Arnon now in the Kingdom of Jordan
Aroeris NE to SW: from "Copais Palus" to Ismenius Lacus
Arosis
Arsanias From an Armenian river
Artanes
Ascanius From the Trojan Ascanius, son of Aeneas
Asclepius From the Greek deity of healing Asclepius
Asopus
Astaboras E to W: connects Syrtis Major to Ismenius Lacus From a name for the Atbarah river, a branch of the upper Nile
Astapus From a name for the Blue Nile river
Astusapes From a name for the White Nile river
Atax
Athesis From the river Adige in Venezia
Athyr From a form of the name of the Egyptian goddess Hathor
Avernus NE to SW: connects Ammonii Fons to the E end of Mare Cimmerium via Aquae Apollinaris From Avernus, a river of Hades
Avus
Axius
Axon

B-D

Bactrus From a river of Bactria
Baetis From the classical name of the Guadalquivir river
Bathys From a river of Pontus
Bautis
Belus
Boreas E to W: connects Propontis to Anian canal From Boreas, the Greek name for the North Wind
Boreosyrtis E to W in curve between Utopia and Dioscuria
Brontes
Cadmus From the Greek hero Cadmus
Caicus
Callirrhoë Means "flowing beautifully"
Cambyses
Cantabras
Carpis
Casius NW to SE: connects Copaïs Palus to Nodus Alcyonius
Casuentus
Catarrhactes
Caÿster
Cedron NW to SE; connects the Jaxartes canal to Arethusa Lacus From the Brook of Cedron near Jerusalem
Centrites
Cephissus From any of several rivers in Greece called Cephissus
Ceraunius A broad canal, or pair of canals, running NS from Tharsis down to between Tempe and Arcadia
Cerberus NE to SW: connects Trivium Charontis to the W end of Mare Cimmerium From the name of the dog Cerberus that guards the gates of Hades
Cestrus
Chaboras
Chretes
Choaspes From Choaspes, a river of Susiana, Persia
Chrysas
Chrysorrhoas N to S: connects Lunae Lacus to Tithonius Lacus Means "flowing with gold"
Cinyphus
Clitumnus
Clodianus
Cocytus Named for Cocytus, a mythical river of Hades
Cophen
Coprates
Corax
Cyaneus
Cyclops Southern continuation of Galaxias canal, running from the junction of Cerberus and Eunostos to Mare Cimmerium Named for the one-eyed monster Cyclops of Greek myth
Cydnus
Cyrus
Daemon
Daix
Daradax
Dardanus E to W: connects Niliacus Lacus to Ceraunius canal
Dargamenes
Deuteronilus E to W: connects Ismenius Lacus to Niliacus Lacus via Dirce Fons Means 'Second Nile'
Digentia
Dosaron
Drahonus

E-F

Elison
Eosphoros NW to SE: connects Phoenicis Lacus to Solis Lacus Means "bringer of dawn"
Erannoboas A river of India
Erebus From Erebus, a name for the Underworld
Erigone
Erinaeus
Erinnys E to W: connects the W end of Mare Sirenum to Titanum Sinus in Memnonia From the mythical Erinyes
Erymanthus
Eulaeus
Eumenides NW to SE: the SE continuation of Orcus canal, from Nodus Gordii to Phoenicis Lacus From another name for the Erinyes
Eunostos
Euphrates N to S: connects Sinus Sabaeus to Ismenius Lacus From the river Euphrates in Mesopotamia, one of the four rivers of the Garden of Eden
Euripus SE to NW, connects Mare Tyrrhenum and Mare Hadriaticum, running through Ausonia After the strait between Euboea and Boeotia
Eurotas After the river Eurotas in Greece
Eurymedon
Eurypus
Evenus aka Euenus
Feuos aka Fevos [ˈfivɒs ]
Fortunae Means "of Fortune"

G-H

Gaesus
Galaesus
Galaxias N to S: from Anian to the junction of Cerberus and Eunostos S of Elysium
Ganges N to S: connects Lunae Lacus to Aurorae Sinus From the Ganges, a river of India
Ganymede From Ganymede, the cupbearer of Zeus
Garrhuenus
Gehon N to S: connects Mare Acidalium to the W end of Sinus Sabaeus From Gihon, one of the four rivers of Eden Also spelled Gihon [ˈdʒajɒn ]
Gigas NE to SW: connects Ascraeus Lacus to Titanum Sinus via Lucus Maricae From the mythical monsters called Gigantes
Glaucus
Gorgon Connects Mare Sirenum and the Eumenides canal near Nodus Gordii From the mythical monster Gorgon
Gyes
Gyndes From a river flowing into the Tigris
Hades N to S: connects Trivium Charontis and Propontis From the Greek name for the Underworld and its ruling deity, Hades
Halys
Harpasus
Hebe
Hebrus
Heliconius E to W: connects Sithonius Lacus to Copaïs Palus
Helisson
Hephaestus From the god Hephaestus
Heratemis
Hiddekel NE to SW: connects Ismenius Lacus to Fastigium Aryn at the western end of Sinus Sabaeus From the Hebrew name for the Tigris, a river of Mesopotamia and one of the four rivers of Eden
Hipparis
Hippus
Hyblaeus NE to SW: connects Anian canal to Hephaestus canal
Hyctanis
Hydaspes From the Greek name for the Jhelum river of India
Hydraotes SE to NW; connects Margaritifer Sinus to Lunae Lacus After the Greek name for the Ravi river of India
Hydriacus
Hylias
Hyllus
Hyphasis
Hypsas
Hyscus

I-M

Idalius
Ilissus
Indus N to S: connects Niliacus Lacus to Margaritifer Sinus From the Indus, a river of India
Iris N to S: connects Phoenicis Lacus to Ceraunius canal Named for the goddess of the rainbow Iris
Isis From the Egyptian goddess Isis
Issedon
Jamuna N to S; connects Niliacus Lacus to Aurorae Sinus From the Yamuna or Jumna, a river of India
Jaxartes From an old name for the Syr Darya, a river of Transoxiana
Jordanis From the river Jordan in the Holy Land
Kison
Labotas
Laestrygon N to S: connects Trivium Charontis to Mare Cimmerium
Leontes
Lethes N to S: connects Hephaestus canal to Syrtis Minor From Lethe, a mythical river of Hades
Liris
Maeander
Magon
Malva From the river Malua in Mauretania
Margus
Medus
Medusa From the mythical monster Medusa
Mogrus

N-O

Nectar Runs E from Solis Lacus to Nectaris Fons (near Protei Regio) From nectar, the legendary drink of the gods
Neda A river of the Peloponnesus
Nepenthes NE to SW: from junction of Thoth and Triton canals to Syrtis Major via Lacus Moeris
Nereides From the nymphs called Nereids
Nestus A river of Thrace
Neudrus A river of India
Nilokeras E to W: connects Niliacus Lacus with Lunae Lacus Means "horn of the Nile"
Nilosyrtis A broad canallike feature, running N from the tip of Syrtis Major to Coloë Palus
Nilus From the Nile, the river of Egypt
Nymphaeus A river of Armenia
Oceanus From Oceanus, a mythical river surrounding the world and the Titan who shared its name
Ochus A river of Bactriana
Opharus A river of Sarmatia
Orcus NW to SE: connects Trivium Charontis to Nodus Gordii, where it turns into Eumenides canal From Orcus, a synonym of Hades
Orontes E to SW: connects Serbonis Palus to Sabaeus Sinus From the Orontes, a river of Syria
Orosines
Oxus NE to SW: connects the Deuteronilus and the Indus canals From an old name for the Amu Darya, a river of Central Asia

P-R

Pactolus From the river Pactolus in Anatolia
Padargus
Palamnus
Parcae
Peneus Runs EW through Hellas From the Peneios river in the Peloponnesus of Greece
Permessus
Pierius E to W: connects Copaïs Palus and Arethusa Lacus
Phasis N to S: connects Phoenicis Lacus and Aonius Sinus
Phison N to S: connects Coloë Palus to Sinus Sabaeus From Pishon, one of the four rivers of Eden
Phlegethon From the Phlegethon, a mythical river of Hades
Protonilus E to W: connects Coloë Palus and Ismenius Lacus Means "first Nile"
Psychrus
Pyramus S from pole via Copaïs Palus to junction of Boreosyrtis and Cadmus canals
Pyriphlegethon NW to SE: connecting Propontis and Lacus Phoenicis From Pyriphlegethon ("fiery Phlegethon"), a mythical river of Hades
Python From the monster Python which Apollo killed
Rha From a classical name for the river Volga
Rhyndacus From the classical river Rhyndacus in Anatolia

S-X

Scamander S to N from Mare Chronium to Mare Cimmerium, between Electris and Eridania From the river Scamander in the Troad
Sesamus From a Paphlagonian river
Simoïs S to N from Mare Chronium to Mare Cimmerium between Phaëthontis and Electris From the river Simoïs in the Troad
Sirenius N to S: connects the Tanais canal near Nerigos with the E end of Mare Sirenum Means "of the Sirens
Siris From an Italian river in Lucania
Sitacus NE to SW: connects Coloë Palus to Fastigium Aryn From the name of a river in Persis
Steropes From the name of a Cyclops
Styx From the mythical river Styx in Hades
Surius From a river of Colchis
Tanaïs From Tanais, an old name for the river Don in Sarmatia
Tantalus From Tantalus, a mythical king imprisoned in Hades
Tartarus N to S: connects Trivium Charontis to Titanum Sinus From Tartarus, a name for the Underworld
Tedanius From an Illyrian river
Thermodon
Thoth From the name of the Egyptian god Thoth
Thyanis Possibly an error for Thyamus, the name of a river of Epirus
Titan From the Titans, the relatives and opponents of the gods
Tithonius
Triton NW to SE: connects Nepenthes canal to the W end of Mare Cimmerium From the seadeity Triton
Tyndis
Typhon E to W: connects Deltoton Sinus to Sirbonis Palus
Typhonius
Ulysses From Ulysses, the Roman name for Odysseus
Uranius E to W: connects Lunae Lacus to Ascraeus Lacus
Xanthus N to S: connects Mare Tyrrhenum to Promethei Sinus, between Eridania and Ausonia Means "yellow"
Xenius NE to SW: connects Arethusa Lacus to Dirce Fons

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. 100 Years Ago in Scientific American - The Riddle of Mars. Scientific American. 1907. 393. 21 February 2019.
  2. The New Canals of Mars. Percival Lowell. 2104. 489–491. Nature. 24 February 1910. 82 . 10.1038/082489d0 . 1910Natur..82R.489L . 5396720 . 21 February 2019. Percival Lowell. free.
  3. Book: Mars and Its Canals: Classic RePrint . Percival Lowell . 978-1440039843 . Forgotten Books . 11 January 2019 . Percival Lowell .
  4. Web site: Percival Lowell . Mars. Chapter IV. Canals. 21 February 2019. Wanderer.org. Percival Lowell.