Rivers of classical antiquity
Template:GeoGroup Template:Latin place names 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.
MapEdit
File:Roman Empire Trajan 117AD.png
Map showing selected larger rivers, as of A.D. 117
For locations of rivers having coordinates below, see linked OpenStreetMap, by clicking on "Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap".
RiversEdit
Rivers, with approximate regions, area:
| Latin English, (other) and older names |
Location | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Abdua, Addua Adda |
Italia Template:Small |
Flows through Lake Como |
| Achelous¹ Acheloos (Achelous) |
Epirus? Template:Small | |
| Aciris Agri |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Adonis Nahr Ibrahim (Lebanon) |
Syria Template:Small | |
| Adrana Eder |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Aenus, Oenus Inn |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Aesis Esino |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Aesontius, Sontius Soča (Isonzo) |
Pannonia Superior? Template:Small | |
| Alara Aller |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Albinia Albegna |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Albis Elbe (Labe, Łaba) |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Alpheus¹ Alpheus (Alfeiós/Alpheiós) |
Achaea? Template:Small | |
| Alutus Olt |
Thracia? Moesia Inferior? Template:Small | |
| Amber Amper, Ammer |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Amisia, Amisus Ems |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Amnias Gök River |
Bithynia and Pontus Template:Small |
Site of Battle of the River Amnias in 89 B.C. |
| Ana, Anas Guadiana |
Hispania Template:Small | |
| Anio Aniene (Teverone) |
Italia Template:Small |
Tributary to the Tiber; water supply to expanding Roma. |
| Anisus Enns |
Noricum? Template:Small |
Tributary to the Danube. |
| Apo Caraş (Karaš) |
Moesia Superior Template:Small |
A left tributary to the Danube. |
| Arabo, Raba Rába (Raab) |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Arar Saône |
Gallia Template:Small | |
| Araros Buzău |
Dacia? Template:Small | |
| Arauris Hérault |
Gallia Template:Small | |
| Araxes Aras |
Armenia? Template:Small | |
| Arda Arda |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Ariminus Marecchia |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Armenta Fiora |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Arnus Arno |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Argessos, Argessus¹ Argeş |
Dacia Template:Small |
From Carpathians to the Danube. How different than Orgessos? |
| Arsia, Arsa Raša (Arsia) |
Dalmatia Template:Small | |
| Arula Aare |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Arva Orava |
Germania Magna? Template:Small | |
| Asis Aso |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Atax Aude |
Gallia Template:Small |
From Pyrenees to Mediterranean near Narbo. |
| Aternus Aterno |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Atesis Adige (Etsch) |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Aufentus, or Aufidus<ref>Aufidus, per Strabo.</ref> Ufente |
Italia Template:Small |
River, now channelized, through the former Pontine Marshes, where the Appian Way reached the sea. |
| Aufidus Ofanto |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Auvona Avon (Bristol?) |
Brittania Template:Small | |
| Avens Velino |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Axius¹ Vardar (Axiós) |
Macedonia Template:Small | |
| Axona Aisne |
Gallia Template:Small | |
| Baetis Guadalquivir |
Hispania Template:Small | |
| Bagradas Medjerda River |
Africa Template:Small |
Site of several battles during the Punic Wars and later; see Battle of the Bagradas River. |
| Basana Bosna |
Dalmatia? Template:Small | |
| Boactes Vara |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Borysthenes Dnieper (Dniepr) |
Sarmatia Template:Small | |
| Bradanus Bradano |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Calipus Sado |
Hispania Template:Small | |
| Calor Calore Irpino |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Calor Calore Lucano |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Casuentus Basento |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Cephissus¹ (Athenae) Cephissus (Athens) (Kephissós, Kifissós) |
Achaea Template:Small | |
| Cephissus¹ (Boeotia) Cephissus (Boeotia) |
Achaea Template:Small | |
| Cephissus¹ (Eleusis) Cephissus (Eleusis) |
Achaea? | |
| Chalusus, Treva Trave |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Ciabrus Tsibritsa |
Moesia Template:Small |
A right tributary of the Danube; divided Moesia Superior vs. Moesia Inferior |
| Clanis, Glanis, Clanius Clanius Clanio, Lagni<ref>Alberto Manco, "The Italian hydronym lagno", Università di Napoli L’Orientale, 2009.</ref> |
Italia | |
| Clitumnus Clitunno |
Italia | A 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 Template:Small | |
| Colapis Kupa (Kolpa) |
Dalmatia? Template:Small | |
| Conovius Conwy |
Brittania Template:Small | |
| Crathis Crati |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Crisus, Crisia Körös (Criş) |
Dacia? Template:Small | |
| Crustumium Conca<ref>Template:Cite EB1911</ref> |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Cusus, Vagus Váh (Vág, Waag) |
Germania Magna Template:Small | |
| Danuvius, Danubius Upper Danube (Donau, Duna, Dunaj, Dunav, Dunărea) |
Multiple | Border 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? Template:Small |
Dierna was a Roman fort at its confluence with the Danube. |
| Dubis Doubs |
Gallia Template:Small | |
| Duria maior, Duria Bautica Dora Baltea |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Duria minor Dora Riparia |
Italia Template:Small |
A left tributary of the Padus. |
| Durius, Durias Douro (Duero) |
Hispania Template:Small | |
| Dravus Drave (Drau, Drava, Dráva) |
Pannonia? Template:Small | |
| Euphrates Euphrates |
Parthia/Mesopotamia Template:Small | |
| Feritor Bisagno |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Fertor, Frento Fortore |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Fevos Varaita |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Flosis Potenza |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Flusor Chienti |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Flussorius Fiastra |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Formio Rižana (Risano) |
Italia? Template:Small | |
| Garumna Garonne |
Gallia Template:Small | |
| Genusus Shkumbin |
Macedonia Template:Small | |
| Gerros, Gerrus¹ Molochnaya |
Sarmatia? Template:Small | |
| Helinius Helinium |
Belgica Template:Small | |
| Hierasus¹ Siret |
Dacia Template:Small | |
| Hypanis¹ Southern Bug (Boh, Buh) |
Sarmatia Template:Small | |
| Iberus Ebro (Ebre) |
Hispania Template:Small | |
| Idanus, Addua Ain |
Gallia Template:Small | |
| Ilargus Iller |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Indus Dalaman River |
Asia Minor Template:Small |
Not to be confused with Indus River, the great river of Asia |
| Ira, Iria | Staffora Template:Small | |
| Iris Yeşilırmak |
Asia Minor Template:Small |
|
| Isala, Sala IJssel |
Belgica Template:Small | |
| Isara, Aesia, Oesia Oise |
Belgica?, Gallia Template:Small | |
| Isara, Isarus, Isargus Isar |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Isara Isère |
Gallia Template:Small | |
| Isarus, Isarcus Eisack (Isarco) |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Isaurus Foglia |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Ister Lower Danube (Donau, Duna, Dunaj, Dunav, Dunărea) |
Template:Small |
Some lower portion of the Danube, to its mouth on Black Sea. Danuvius was upper portion. |
| Julia, Licus Gail |
Germania? Gallia? Template:Small | |
| Juvavus, Isonta Salzach |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Lametus | Amato | |
| Laus Lao |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Leontes Litani River (Lebanon) |
Syria Template:Small | |
| Licus, Lica, Licca Lech |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Liger Loire |
Gallia Template:Small |
|
| Limia Lima |
Hispania Template:Small | |
| Liquentia Livenza |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Liris, Clanis Garigliano (Liri) |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Lupia, Luppia Lippe |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Lycus Nahr al-Kalb (Lebanon) |
Syria Template:Small | |
| Lycus Kelkit River |
Asia Minor Template:Small |
Longest tributary of the Iris |
| Macra, Latis Maira |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Macra Magra |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Margus Velika Morava (Serbia) |
Moesia Superior Template:Small | |
| Marisus, Marisia Mureş (Maros, Marusza) |
Dacia Template:Small | |
| Mataurus, Metaurus Metauro |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Meandrum, Meander Büyük Menderes River |
Asia Template:Small | |
| Metaurus Petrace |
Italia | River in Calabria region. |
| Matrona Marne |
Gallia Template:Small | |
| Medoacus maior, Brinta Brenta |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Medoacus minor Bacchiglione |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Moënus Main |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Minius Minho (Miño) |
Hispania Template:Small | |
| Misco Musone |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Moldavia, Multavia Vltava (Moldau) |
Germania Magna Template:Small | |
| Monda Mondego River |
Hispania Template:Small | |
| Moravia Morava (Central Europe) (March) |
Moesia Superior? Template:Small | |
| Mosa Meuse |
Belgica, Gallia? Template:Small | |
| Mosella Moselle |
Belgica, Gallia?, Germania? Template:Small | |
| Murus Mur (Mura) |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Naparis Ialomița |
Dacia? Template:Small | |
| Naro Neretva |
Dalmatia? Template:Small | |
| Natiso Natisone |
Italia, and? Template:Small | |
| Natissis Noteć (Netze) |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Nicer Neckar |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Nilus Nile |
Ægyptus Template:Small | |
| Nura Nure |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Oenus Inn |
Germania? Template:Small | |
| Ollius, Olius Oglio |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Oltis Lot |
Gallia Template:Small | |
| Olubria Scrivia |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Orbis Orbe |
Gallia?, Germania Template:Small | |
| Ordessos Argeș |
Dacia Template:Small |
How different than Argessos? |
| Orontes Orontes River (Lebanon) |
Syria Template:Small | |
| Orgus Orco |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Panticapes Inhul |
Sarmatia Template:Small | |
| Peneus¹ (Elea) Peneus (Ilia), (Pineiós/Peneiós) |
Achaea Template:Small | |
| Peneus¹ (Tempe) Peneus (Tempe), (Pineiós/Peneiós, Salambria) |
Achaea Template:Small | |
| Padus, Eridanus¹ Po |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Phrudis Bresle |
Gallia Template:Small | |
| Pisaurus Foglia |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Plavis Piave |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Potentia, or Flosis?<ref group=note>Potenza (river)article asserts Latin name is "Flosis.</ref> Potenza |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Pyretus Prut |
Sarmatia? or Dacia? Template:Small | |
| Rhenus Rhine (Rijn, Rhin, Rhein, Reno, Rein) |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Rabon Jiu (Zsil) |
Thracia? Template:Small | |
| Rha¹ Volga |
Scythia? Template:Small | |
| Rhodanus Rhône |
Gallia Template:Small | |
| Rubico Rubicon (Pisciatello, Fiumicino, Rubicone) |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Rura Ruhr |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Sabatus Sabato |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Sabatus Savuto |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Sabis Sambre |
Belgica, Gallia? Template:Small | |
| Sabis Selle |
Gallia Template:Small | |
| Sabrina Severn |
Brittania Template:Small |
Longest river in Brittania |
| Sagrus Sangro |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Sala Franconian Saale |
Germania? Template:Small |
Franconian Saale, a tributary of the Moënus. |
| Sala Saxon Saale |
Germania Template:Small |
Thurigian Saale, a tributary of the Albis. |
| Salsum <ref>Cæsar, Gaius Julius [1]¨Salsum¨, https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Caesar/Spanish_War/text*.html.</ref> Guadajoz |
Hispania Template:Small |
A tributary of the Bætis. |
| Samara Somme |
Gallia Template:Small | |
| Samus Someş (Szamos) |
Dacia? Template:Small |
A tributary of the Tisia. |
| Sangarius Sakarya |
Asia Minor Template:Small | |
| Sarius Serio |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Sarāvus Saar |
Belgica? Template:Small |
A right tributary of the Mosella |
| Sargetia Strei |
Dacia? Template:Small | |
| Savus Sava (Száva) |
Dalmatia Template:Small | |
| Scultenna Panaro (Scoltenna) |
Italia Template:Small |
Right tributary to the Padus. |
| Secia Secchia |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Sena, Misus Misa |
Italia Template:Small |
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 Template:Small | |
| Silarus, Silerus, Siler Sele |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Sequana Seine |
Gallia Template:Small | |
| Sesites, Sessites Sesia |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Siris Sinni |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Spreva Spree |
Germania Magna Template:Small | |
| Strymon¹ Struma (Karasu, Strimónis) |
Macedonia Template:Small | |
| Stura Stura di Demonte |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Suasanus Cesano |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Sybaris Coscile |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Tagus Tajo (Tejo, Tagus) |
Hispania Template:Small | |
| Tamaca Tâmega |
Hispania Template:Small | |
| Tamarus Tammaro |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Tamesis, Tamesa Thames |
Brittania Template:Small | |
| Tanager Tanagro (Negro) |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Tanais Don |
Sarmatia? or Scythia? Template:Small | |
| Tanarus Tanaro |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Tarnis Tarn |
Gallia Template:Small | |
| Tarus Taro |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Tedanius Zrmanja (Zermagna) |
Dalmatia Template:Small | |
| Tessuinus Tesino |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Thader Segura |
Hispania Template:Small | |
| Tiberis, Tiber Tiber (Tevere) |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Tibiscus, Tibisis Timiş (Temes, Tamiš) |
Moesia Superior? or Dacia? Template:Small | |
| Ticinus Ticino (Tessin) |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Tigris Tigris |
Parthia/Mesopotamia Template:Small |
|
| Timacus Timok |
Moesia Superior? Template:Small |
A right tributary of the Danube. |
| Tinna Tenna |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Tifernus Biferno |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Tirinus Tirino |
Italia? | |
| Tisia Tisza (Tissa, Theiss) |
Dacia Template:Small | |
| Titius, Corcoras, Korkoras¹ Krka (Cherca) |
Dalmatia Template:Small | |
| Tolerus, Trerus Sacco |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Trebia Trebbia |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Trinius Trigno |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Truentus Tronto |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Tyras Dniester (Dniestr, Nistru) |
Sarmatia Template:Small | |
| Umbro Ombrone |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Vacua Vouga |
Hispania Template:Small | |
| Varta Warta (Warthe) |
Germania Template:Small |
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 Template:Small | |
| Varus Var |
Gallia Template:Small | |
| Viadua, Viadrua, Odera Oder (Odra) |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Visurgis Weser |
Germania Template:Small | |
| Vistula Vistula (Wisła, Weichsel) |
Germania Magna Template:Small |
|
| Volturnus Volturno |
Italia Template:Small | |
| Vomanus Vomano |
Italia Template:Small |
¹ - Latinized spelling of a Greek name.
See alsoEdit
- List of European rivers with alternative names
- Latin names of Portuguese rivers
- List of Roman place names in Britain
- Roman sites in the United Kingdom
- Romano-British
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire, Centre for Digital Humanities, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Dr. J. G. Th. Grässe, Orbis Latinus: Lexikon lateinischer geographischer Namen des Mittelalters und der Neuzeit, online at the Bavarian State Library
- Grässe, Orbis Latinus, online at Columbia University