Rivers of classical antiquity explained

Following is a list of rivers of classical antiquity stating the Latin name, the equivalent English name, and also, in some cases, Greek and local name. The scope is intended to include, at least, rivers named and known widely in the Roman empire. This includes some rivers beyond the bounds of the Roman empire at its peak.

Map

For locations of rivers having coordinates below, see linked OpenStreetMap, by clicking on "Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap".

Rivers

Rivers, with approximate regions, area:

Latin
English, (other) and older names
LocationNote
Abdua, Addua
Adda
Italia
Flows through Lake Como
Achelous¹
Acheloos (Achelous)
Epirus?
Aciris
Agri
Italia
Adonis
Nahr Ibrahim (Lebanon)
Syria
Adrana
Eder
Germania
Aenus, Oenus
Inn
Germania
Aesis
Esino
Italia
Aesontius, Sontius
Soča (Isonzo)
Pannonia Superior?
Alara
Aller
Germania
Albinia
Albegna
Italia
Albis
Elbe (Labe, Łaba)
Germania
Alpheus¹
Alpheus (Alfeiós/Alpheiós)
Achaea?
Alutus
Olt
Thracia?
Moesia Inferior?
Amber
Amper, Ammer
Germania
Amisia, Amisus
Ems
Germania
Amnias
Gök River
Bithynia and Pontus
Site of Battle of the River Amnias in 89 B.C.
Ana, Anas
Guadiana
Hispania
Anio
Aniene (Teverone)
Italia
Tributary to the Tiber; water supply to expanding Roma.
Anisus
Enns
Noricum?
Tributary to the Danube.
Apo
Caraş (Karaš)
Moesia Superior
A left tributary to the Danube.
Arabo, Raba
Rába (Raab)
Germania
Arar
Saône
Gallia
Araros
Buzău
Dacia?
Arauris
Hérault
Gallia
Araxes
Aras
Armenia?
Arda
Arda
Italia
Ariminus
Marecchia
Italia
Armenta
Fiora
Italia
Arnus
Arno
Italia
Argessos, Argessus¹
Argeş
Dacia
From Carpathians to the Danube. How different than Orgessos?
Arsia, Arsa
Raša (Arsia)
Dalmatia
Arula
Aare
Germania
Arva
Orava
Germania Magna?
Asis
Aso
Italia
Atax
Aude
Gallia
From Pyrenees to Mediterranean near Narbo.
Aternus
Aterno
Italia
Atesis
Adige (Etsch)
Italia
Aufentus, or Aufidus[1]
Ufente
Italia
River, now channelized, through the former Pontine Marshes, where the Appian Way reached the sea.
Aufidus
Ofanto
Italia
Auvona
Avon (Bristol?)
Brittania
Avens
Velino
Italia
Axius¹
Vardar (Axiós)
Macedonia
Axona
Aisne
Gallia
Baetis
Guadalquivir
Hispania
Bagradas
Medjerda River
Africa
Site of several battles during the Punic Wars and later; see Battle of the Bagradas River.
Basana
Bosna
Dalmatia?
Boactes
Vara
Italia
Borysthenes
Dnieper (Dniepr)
Sarmatia
Bradanus
Bradano
Italia
Calipus
Sado
Hispania
Calor
Calore Irpino
Italia
Calor
Calore Lucano
Italia
Casuentus
Basento
Italia
Cephissus¹ (Athenae)
Cephissus (Athens) (Kephissós, Kifissós)
Achaea
Cephissus¹ (Boeotia)
Cephissus (Boeotia)
Achaea
Cephissus¹ (Eleusis)
Cephissus (Eleusis)
Achaea?
Chalusus, Treva
Trave
Germania
Ciabrus
Tsibritsa
Moesia
Clanis, Glanis, Clanius
Clanius Clanio, Lagni[2]
Italia
Clitumnus
Clitunno
ItaliaA tributary of the Topino, which is a tributary of the Tiber. The spring which is the source of the Clitumnus was regarded a beautiful place by the Romans and later by Byron and Giosuè Carducci.
Clota
Clyde
Brittania
Colapis
Kupa (Kolpa)
Dalmatia?
Conovius
Conwy
Brittania
Crathis
Crati
Italia
Crisus, Crisia
Körös (Criş)
Dacia?
Crustumium
Conca[3]
Italia
Cusus, Vagus
Váh (Vág, Waag)
Germania Magna
Danuvius, Danubius
Upper Danube (Donau, Duna, Dunaj, Dunav, Dunărea)
MultipleBorder of several regions of Roman Empire at times. Crossed by Trajan's Bridge, a world wonder. Some lower portion of the Danube was termed the Ister.
Dierna
Cerna
Dacia?
Dierna was a Roman fort at its confluence with the Danube.
Dubis
Doubs
Gallia
Duria maior, Duria Bautica
Dora Baltea
Italia
Duria minor
Dora Riparia
Italia
A left tributary of the Padus.
Durius, Durias
Douro (Duero)
Hispania
Dravus
Drave (Drau, Drava, Dráva)
Pannonia?
Euphrates
Euphrates
Parthia/Mesopotamia
Feritor
Bisagno
Italia
Fertor, Frento
Fortore
Italia
Fevos
Varaita
Italia
Flosis
Potenza
Italia
Flusor
Chienti
Italia
Flussorius
Fiastra
Italia
Formio
Rižana (Risano)
Italia?
Garumna
Garonne
Gallia
Genusus
Shkumbin
Macedonia
Gerros, Gerrus¹
Molochnaya
Sarmatia?
Helinius
Helinium
Belgica
Hierasus¹
Siret
Dacia
Hypanis¹
Southern Bug (Boh, Buh)
Sarmatia
Iberus
Ebro (Ebre)
Hispania
Idanus, Addua
Ain
Gallia
Ilargus
Iller
Germania
Indus
Dalaman River
Asia Minor
Not to be confused with Indus River, the great river of Asia
Ira, IriaStaffora
Iris
Yeşilırmak
Asia Minor
Isala, Sala
IJssel
Belgica
Isara, Aesia, Oesia
Oise
Belgica?, Gallia
Isara, Isarus, Isargus
Isar
Germania
Isara
Isère
Gallia
Isarus, Isarcus
Eisack (Isarco)
Italia
Isaurus
Foglia
Italia
Ister
Lower Danube (Donau, Duna, Dunaj, Dunav, Dunărea)

Some lower portion of the Danube, to its mouth on Black Sea. Danuvius was upper portion.
Julia, Licus
Gail
Germania? Gallia?
Juvavus, Isonta
Salzach
Germania
LametusAmato
Laus
Lao
Italia
Leontes
Litani River (Lebanon)
Syria
Licus, Lica, Licca
Lech
Germania
Liger
Loire
Gallia
Limia
Lima
Hispania
Liquentia
Livenza
Italia
Liris, Clanis
Garigliano (Liri)
Italia
Lupia, Luppia
Lippe
Germania
Lycus
Nahr al-Kalb (Lebanon)
Syria
Lycus
Kelkit River
Asia Minor
Macra, Latis
Maira
Italia
Macra
Magra
Italia
Margus
Velika Morava (Serbia)
Moesia Superior
Marisus, Marisia
Mureş (Maros, Marusza)
Dacia
Mataurus, Metaurus
Metauro
Italia
Meandrum, Meander
Büyük Menderes River
Asia
Metaurus
Petrace
ItaliaRiver in Calabria region.
Matrona
Marne
Gallia
Medoacus maior, Brinta
Brenta
Italia
Medoacus minor
Bacchiglione
Italia
Moënus
Main
Germania
Minius
Minho (Miño)
Hispania
Misco
Musone
Italia
Moldavia, Multavia
Vltava (Moldau)
Germania Magna
Monda
Mondego River
Hispania
Moravia
Morava (Central Europe) (March)
Moesia Superior?
Mosa
Meuse
Belgica, Gallia?
Mosella
Moselle
Belgica, Gallia?, Germania?
Murus
Mur (Mura)
Germania
Naparis
Ialomița
Dacia?
Naro
Neretva
Dalmatia?
Natiso
Natisone
Italia, and?
Natissis
Noteć (Netze)
Germania
Nicer
Neckar
Germania
Nilus
Nile
Ægyptus
Nura
Nure
Italia
Oenus
Inn
Germania?
Ollius, Olius
Oglio
Italia
Oltis
Lot
Gallia
Olubria
Scrivia
Italia
Orbis
Orbe
Gallia?, Germania
Ordessos
Argeș
Dacia
How different than Argessos?
Orontes
Orontes River (Lebanon)
Syria
Orgus
Orco
Italia
Panticapes
Inhul
Sarmatia
Peneus¹ (Elea)
Peneus (Ilia), (Pineiós/Peneiós)
Achaea
Peneus¹ (Tempe)
Peneus (Tempe), (Pineiós/Peneiós, Salambria)
Achaea
Padus, Eridanus¹
Po
Italia
Phrudis
Bresle
Gallia
Pisaurus
Foglia
Italia
Plavis
Piave
Italia
Potentia, or Flosis?[4]
Potenza
Italia
Pyretus
Prut
Sarmatia? or Dacia?
Rhenus
Rhine (Rijn, Rhin, Rhein, Reno, Rein)
Germania
Rabon
Jiu (Zsil)
Thracia?
Rha¹
Volga
Scythia?
Rhodanus
Rhône
Gallia
Rubico
Rubicon (Pisciatello, Fiumicino, Rubicone)
Italia
Rura
Ruhr
Germania
Sabatus
Sabato
Italia
Sabatus
Savuto
Italia
Sabis
Sambre
Belgica, Gallia?
Sabis
Selle
Gallia
Sabrina
Severn
Brittania
Longest river in Brittania
Sagrus
Sangro
Italia
Sala
Franconian Saale
Germania?
Franconian Saale, a tributary of the Moënus.
Sala
Saxon Saale
Germania
Thurigian Saale, a tributary of the Albis.
Salsum
[5] Guadajoz
Hispania
A tributary of the Bætis.
Samara
Somme
Gallia
Samus
Someş (Szamos)
Dacia?
A tributary of the Tisia.
Sangarius
Sakarya
Asia Minor
Sarius
Serio
Italia
Sarāvus
Saar
Belgica?
A right tributary of the Mosella
Sargetia
Strei
Dacia?
Savus
Sava (Száva)
Dalmatia
Scultenna
Panaro (Scoltenna)
Italia
Right tributary to the Padus.
Secia
Secchia
Italia
Sena, Misus
Misa
Italia
Mouth is at Sena Gallica, Roman colony that was southernmost point of Hasdrubal Barca drive to relieve Hannibal in the Second Punic War, before the Battle of Metaurus.
Silarus
Sillaro
Italia
Silarus, Silerus, Siler
Sele
Italia
Sequana
Seine
Gallia
Sesites, Sessites
Sesia
Italia
Siris
Sinni
Italia
Spreva
Spree
Germania Magna
Strymon¹
Struma (Karasu, Strimónis)
Macedonia
Stura
Stura di Demonte
Italia
Suasanus
Cesano
Italia
Sybaris
Coscile
Italia
Tagus
Tajo (Tejo, Tagus)
Hispania
Tamaca
Tâmega
Hispania
Tamarus
Tammaro
Italia
Tamesis, Tamesa
Thames
Brittania
Tanager
Tanagro (Negro)
Italia
Tanais
Don
Sarmatia? or Scythia?
Tanarus
Tanaro
Italia
Tarnis
Tarn
Gallia
Tarus
Taro
Italia
Tedanius
Zrmanja (Zermagna)
Dalmatia
Tessuinus
Tesino
Italia
Thader
Segura
Hispania
Tiberis, Tiber
Tiber (Tevere)
Italia
Tibiscus, Tibisis
Timiş (Temes, Tamiš)
Moesia Superior? or Dacia?
Ticinus
Ticino (Tessin)
Italia
Tigris
Tigris
Parthia/Mesopotamia
Timacus
Timok
Moesia Superior?
A right tributary of the Danube.
Tinna
Tenna
Italia
Tifernus
Biferno
Italia
Tirinus
Tirino
Italia?
Tisia
Tisza (Tissa, Theiss)
Dacia
Titius, Corcoras, Korkoras¹
Krka (Cherca)
Dalmatia
Tolerus, Trerus
Sacco
Italia
Trebia
Trebbia
Italia
Trinius
Trigno
Italia
Truentus
Tronto
Italia
Tyras
Dniester (Dniestr, Nistru)
Sarmatia
Umbro
Ombrone
Italia
Vacua
Vouga
Hispania
Varta
Warta (Warthe)
Germania
A tributary of the Viadua, and connects to the Vistula by the Natissis and a canal (at least in modern times).
Varus
Stura di Lanzo
Italia
Varus
Var
Gallia
Viadua, Viadrua, Odera
Oder (Odra)
Germania
Visurgis
Weser
Germania
Vistula
Vistula (Wisła, Weichsel)
Germania Magna
Volturnus
Volturno
Italia
Vomanus
Vomano
Italia

¹ - Latinized spelling of a Greek name.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Aufidus, per Strabo.
  2. Alberto Manco, "The Italian hydronym lagno", Università di Napoli L’Orientale, 2009.
  3. Aemilia Via . Ashby . Thomas . 01.
  4. [Potenza (river)]
  5. Cæsar, GaiusJulius https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Caesar/Spanish_War/text*.html¨Salsum¨, https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Caesar/Spanish_War/text*.html.