Rivers in the Iliad

Sons of Okeanos and Tethys

The Titans Okeanos (Ocean) and Tethys were very prolific. They fostered thousands of daughters and uncounted Rivers.

The Rivers hold dominion over the terrain they inhabit and are honored by sensible local inhabitants and prudent travelers.

There are at least twenty-nine rivers listed in the Iliad by Homer. Some of them were active players in the Trojan War, others were only mentioned.

Rivers in the Iliad

The line numbers listed here correspond fairly well with the Richmond Lattimore and Murray-Wyatt (Loeb Classical Library) translations of the Iliad. Other translations, such as Robert Fitzgerald, Robert Fagles, etc., do not correspond as well but, with a small amount of effort, you should be able to find the reference you need regardless of the translation you use.

Aisepos—Αἰσήποιο

• Iliad—book 2, line 825—Pandaros was the commander of the men from Zeleia; they lived at the foot of Mount Ida and drank the dark water of Aisepos.
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• Iliad—book 4, line 91—Athene speaks to Pandaros and urges him to shoot an arrow at Menelaos; Pandaros's family home was near the streams of Aisepos.
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• Iliad—book 12, line 21—Apollon and Poseidon take counsel to destroy the wall and ditch the Danaans built; they plan to use the destructive forces of the rivers, which flow from Mount Ida to the sea: Rhesos, Heptaporos, Karesos, Rhodios, Grenikos, Aisepos, Skamandros, and Simoeis.

Acheloios ¹—Ἀχελώϊος

• Iliad—book 21, line 194—Achilles tells the Trojan, Asteropaios, that someone descended from a river does not have a chance against his spear because he is descended from Zeus; he says that not even the river Acheloios would dare stand against Zeus.

Acheloios ²—Ἀχελώϊος

• Iliad—book 24, line 616—When Achilles was speaking to King Priam, he mentions the sadness of Niobe and how she sits in the mountains of Sipylos near the waters of Acheloios.

Alpheios—Ἀλφειοῦ

• Iliad—book 5, line 545—Aineias killed the brothers, Orsilokhos and Krethon, who were descended from the river Alpheios.
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• Iliad—book 11, line 727—Nestor remembers the war with the Epeians and how he sacrificed a bull to the river Alpheios, a bull to Poseidon, and a cow to gray-eyed Athene.

Asopos—Ἀσωπὸν

• Iliad—book 4, line 383—Agamemnon speaks of how Tydeus, Diomedes’s father, left the other Achaians at the river Asopos and went among the Kadmeians.

Axios—Ἀξιοῦ

• Iliad—book 2, line 849—Pyraikhmes was commander of the soldiers from Amydon near the fairest of all rivers, Axios.
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• Iliad—book 16, line 288—Patroklos killed Pyraikhmes who was from Amydon and the wide streams of Axios.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 140—Pelegon was the son of Axios and Periboia.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 157—As Asteropaios is facing Achilles in battle, he says he is the grandson of Axios.

Boagrios—Βοαγρίος

• Iliad—book 2, line 533—Aias, son of Oileus, led the men from beside the waters of Boagrios.

Grenikos—Γρήνικός

• Iliad—book 12, line 21—Apollon and Poseidon take counsel to destroy the wall and ditch the Danaans built; they plan to use the destructive forces of the rivers, which flow from Mount Ida to the sea: Rhesos, Heptaporos, Karesos, Rhodios, Grenikos, Aisepos, Skamandros, and Simoeis.

Heptaporos—‘Επτάπορός

• Iliad—book 12, line 20—Apollon and Poseidon take counsel to destroy the wall and ditch the Danaans built; they plan to use the destructive forces of the rivers, which flow from Mount Ida to the sea: Rhesos, Heptaporos, Karesos, Rhodios, Grenikos, Aisepos, Skamandros, and Simoeis.

Hermos—Ἕρμῳ

• Iliad—book 20, line 392—Achilles was exhilarated as he killed Iphition and declared that the dead man had been from the land of the fish-filled Hyllos and whirling Hermos.

Hyllos—Ὓλλῳ

• Iliad—book 20, line 392—Achilles was exhilarated as he killed Iphition and declared that the dead man had been from the land of the fish-filled Hyllos and whirling Hermos.

Karesos—Κάρησός

• Iliad—book 12, line 20—Apollon and Poseidon take counsel to destroy the wall and ditch the Danaans built; they plan to use the destructive forces of the rivers, which flow from Mount Ida to the sea: Rhesos, Heptaporos, Karesos, Rhodios, Grenikos, Aisepos, Skamandros, and Simoeis.

Kephisos—Κηφισοῑο

• Iliad—book 2, line 523—Skhedios and Epistrophos led the men from Phokis near the immortal river, Kephisos.
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• Iliad—book 2, line 525—Lilaia was beside the well springs of Kephisos.

Maiandros—Μαιάνδρου

• Iliad—book 2, line 869—The sons of Nomion were from near the waters of Maiandros and led the Karians to Troy.

Minyeios—Μινυήϊος

• Iliad—book 11, line 722—Nestor remembers how, when he was young and unproven in battle, his cavalry was camped near the river Minyeios where it issues into the sea at Arene.

Okeanos (Ocean)—Ὠκεανῷ

Okeanos encircled the earth and was the source and destination of all rivers.

The Greeks had no knowledge of the Americas and a distorted appreciation of the shape and size Asia and Africa. However, after 250 BCE they did perceive the world was spherical with Okeanos completely surrounding the continents.

• Iliad—book 3, line 5—The Trojans rushed into battle like screaming cranes flying towards the streams of Okeanos.
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• Iliad—book 8, line 485—As the sun fell into Okeanos, Hera silently accepts Zeus’s decision to give Hektor glory at the expense of the Argives.
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• Iliad—book 14, line 246—When Hera asks Hypnos (Sleep) to use his powers on Zeus, he says he would willingly cast sleep on any of the Immortals, even the River Okeanos, but he fears Zeus’s anger.
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• Iliad—book 14, line 302—When Hera finds Zeus on Mount Ida, she lies to him and says she is on her way to see Okeanos and Tethys.
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• Iliad—book 14, line 311—Hera tells Zeus that she has come to him on Mount Ida to ask his permission to visit deep-running Okeanos.
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• Iliad—book 16, line 151—Podarge conceived the horses, Xanthos and Balios as she grazed in the meadows beside the stream of Okeanos.
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• Iliad—book 18, line 240—Hera drove the unwilling Helios (Sun) into the depths of Okeanos so the Trojans and the Argives would stop fighting.
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• Iliad—book 18, line 399—Hephaistos recounts how Thetis and Eurynome, daughter of Okeanos, helped him when he was thrown from Mount Olympos.
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• Iliad—book 18, line 402—When Hephaistos was thrown from Mount Olympos, Thetis and Eurynome hid him in a cave by the stream of Okeanos.
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• Iliad—book 18, line 489—When Hephaistos was decorating the shield for Achilles, he included the constellation of the Bear (Kallisto); of the constellations, Kallisto alone is never plunged into the depths of Okeanos.
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• Iliad—book 18, line 606—When Hephaistos was decorating the shield for Achilles, he rimmed the shield with a depiction of Okeanos.
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• Iliad—book 19, line 1—When yellow robed Eos (Dawn) rose above Okeanos, Thetis came to her son, Achilles.
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• Iliad—book 20, line 7—When Zeus called an assembly of the Immortals, Okeanos was the only river not present.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 196—Achilles tells Asteropaios that all rivers flow from Okeanos.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 198—Achilles tells Asteropaios that Okeanos is afraid of the lightning of Zeus.
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• Iliad—book 23, line 205—At the house of Zephyros (West Wind), Iris tells the assembled winds that Achilles has prayed for their help; she explains that she must hurry away because she must go back to the waters of Okeanos and to the land of the Aithiopians.

Parthenios—Παρθένιον

• Iliad—book 2, line 854—Pylaimenes was commander of the Paphlagonians, whose homes were around the Parthenios river, land of the wild mules.

Peneios—Πηνειὸν

• Iliad—book 2, line 753—Titaressos flows into Peneios but their waters do not mix.
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• Iliad—book 2, line 757—Prothoos led the Magnetes and those who dwell near Peneios and Mount Pelion.

Rhesos—Ῥῆσός

• Iliad—book 12, line 20—Apollon and Poseidon take counsel to destroy the wall and ditch the Danaans built; they plan to use the destructive forces of the rivers, which flow from Mount Ida to the sea: Rhesos, Heptaporos, Karesos, Rhodios, Grenikos, Aisepos, Skamandros, and Simoeis.

Rhodios—Ῥοδίος

• Iliad—book 12, line 20—Apollon and Poseidon take counsel to destroy the wall and ditch the Danaans built; they plan to use the destructive forces of the rivers, which flow from Mount Ida to the sea: Rhesos, Heptaporos, Karesos, Rhodios, Grenikos, Aisepos, Skamandros, and Simoeis.

Sangarios—Σαγγαρίον

• Iliad—book 3, line 187—As they watch Agamemnon from the walls of Troy, Priam tells Helen that he once saw the Amazons at war in Phrygia, near the banks of Sangarios.

Satnioeis—Σατνιόεντι

• Iliad—book 21, line 87—A son of King Priam (Lykaon) begs Achilles for his life and says he is from Pedasos on the river Satnioeis.

Simoeis—Σιμόεις

• Iliad—book 5, line 774—Hera left her chariot where Simoeis and Skamandros come together.
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• Iliad—book 5, line 778—Hera let her horses graze on the grass of Simoeis, which is like ambrosia.
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• Iliad—book 6, line 4—The two armies fought on the plain between the waters of Xanthos and Simoeis.
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• Iliad—book 12, line 22—Apollon and Poseidon take counsel to destroy the wall and ditch the Danaans built; they plan to use the destructive forces of the rivers, which flow from Mount Ida to the sea: Rhesos, Heptaporos, Karesos, Rhodios, Grenikos, Aisepos, Skamandros, and Simoeis.
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• Iliad—book 20, line 53—Ares bellowed from the walls of Troy as the Trojan army ran in confusion beside Simoeis.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 307—Skamandros calls to his brother, Simoeis, to help hold back the fury of Achilles.

Skamandros—Σκαμάνδριον

The Skamandros River near Troy; known to the Immortals as Xanthos.

• Iliad—book 2, line 465—The Achaians thundered onto the plain of Skamandros like swarms of birds.
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• Iliad—book 2, line 467—Thousands of Achaians took their position in the meadow of Skamandros like leaves and flowers in their season.
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• Iliad—book 5, line 36—Athene leads Ares from the battle and seats him on the banks of Skamandros.
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• Iliad—book 5, line 77—Dolopion was a priest of Skamandros.
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• Iliad—book 5, line 774—Hera left her chariot where Simoeis and Skamandros come together.
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• Iliad—book 7, line 329—Nestor tells Agamemnon that they should call for a pause in the fighting so they can retrieve the bodies of the men who have fallen by the waters of Skamandros.
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• Iliad—book 11, line 499—Hektor was fighting by the banks of Skamandros and did not see Aias slaughtering the other Trojans.
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• Iliad—book 12, line 21—Apollon and Poseidon take counsel to destroy the wall and ditch the Danaans built; they plan to use the destructive forces of the rivers, which flow from Mount Ida to the sea: Rhesos, Heptaporos, Karesos, Rhodios, Grenikos, Aisepos, Skamandros, and Simoeis.
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• Iliad—book 20, line 74—Xanthos, known to mortals as Skamandros, stood against Hephaistos in the battle-lines.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 124—Achilles throws the dead body of Lykaon, Priam’s son, in Skamandros for the fish to eat.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 136—When Achilles kept throwing the bodies of the dead Trojans into the river, Skamandros became angry.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 212—Skamandros speaks to Achilles and tells him to take the fighting onto the plain and not to clog his waters with more corpses.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 223—Achilles answers Skamandros and says he will not stop fighting until Hektor is dead.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 228—Skamandros speaks to Apollon and berates him for allowing Achilles to slaughter the Trojans.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 247—Skamandros, the great god, rises from his banks and attacks Achilles.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 305—Skamandros would not abate his fury against Achilles.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 307—Skamandros calls to his brother, Simoeis, to help hold back the fury of Achilles.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 356—Skamandros calls out to Hephaistos to cease the fire that is consuming the river.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 368—Skamandros calls out to Hera and says the fire of her son, Hephaistos, is consuming the river.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 603—Apollon takes the form of Agenor and leads Achilles away from the walls of Troy and along the banks of Skamandros.
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• Iliad—book 22, line 148—The springs of Skamandros are double jets of water, one is warm and the other is cool.

Sperkheios—Σπερχεῑον

• Iliad—book 16, line 174—One of the commanders who came to Troy with Achilles was Menesthios, son of Sperkheios and Polydora.

Styx—Στυγὸς

Although Styx is an Okeanid, i.e. a daughter of Okeanos (Ocean) and Tethys, and not a River, she is often called the Oath River and for that reason she is included here. As a denizen of the Underworld, Styx did not have an earthly domain.

• Iliad—book 2, line 755—The river Titaressos is a branch of Styx, the fearful Oath River, and flows across the silver eddies of the river Peneios without mingling his waters.
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• Iliad—book 8, line 369—Athene tells Hera how she rescued Herakles and saved him from the Stygian water.
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• Iliad—book 14, line 271—Hera swears on the river Styx that she will give Hypnos (Sleep) Pasithea, one of the younger Kharites (Graces), in marriage if he will help her trick Zeus.
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• Iliad—book 15, line 37—Hera swears to Zeus, by heaven, earth, and the water of Styx, that Poseidon entered the battle between the Trojans and Danaans without her prompting.

Titaressos—Τιταρήσσον

• Iliad—book 2, line 751—The lovely waters of Titaressos.
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• Iliad—book 2, line 752—Titaressos flows into Peneios but their waters do not mix.
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• Iliad—book 2, line 755—The river Titaressos is a branch of Styx, the fearful Oath River, and flows across the silver eddies of the river Peneios without mingling his waters.

Xanthos—Ξάνθον

The Xanthos River near Troy; known to mortals as Skamandros.

• Iliad—book 6, line 4—The two armies fought on the plain between the waters of Xanthos and Simoeis.
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• Iliad—book 8, line 561—A thousand Trojan campfires burned on the plain by the waters of Xanthos.
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• Iliad—book 14, line 434—The injured Hektor was taken to the river Xanthos, the son of Zeus, and splashed with water.
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• Iliad—book 20, line 40—Apollon, Artemis, Aphrodite, Leto, and Xanthos fought on the side of the Trojans.
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• Iliad—book 20, line 74—Xanthos, known to mortals as Skamandros, stood against Hephaistos in the battle-lines.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 2—Achilles forced half of the retreating Trojans into the waters of Xanthos, the son of Zeus.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 15—Achilles drove the confused Trojans into the whirling waters of Xanthos.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 145—Xanthos inspired valor in Asteropaios even though Achilles was determined to kill him.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 332—Hera tells Hephaistos to fight against Xanthos.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 337—Hera tells Hephaistos to set fire to the trees on the banks of Xanthos.
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• Iliad—book 21, line 383—Hera restrained Hephaistos after Xanthos had been beaten.
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• Iliad—book 24, line 693—After Priam retrieved the body of Hektor from Achilles, Hermes escorted him back to the crossing of Xanthos, son of Zeus.

Xanthos—Ξάνθον

The Xanthos River in Lykia.

• Iliad—book 2, line 877—Sarpedon and Glaukos were commanders of troops from Lykia near the whirling waters of Xanthos.
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• Iliad—book 5, line 479—Sarpedon scolds Hektor and reminds him that he left his home in Lykia, near the waters of Xanthos, to help protect Troy.
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• Iliad—book 6, line 172—Glaukos tells the story of Bellerophontes and how he went to the stream of Xanthos in Lykia.
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• Iliad—book 12, line 313—Sarpedon tells Glaukos that they must set a good example in battle because they were honored men at their home in Lykia with fertile land on the banks of Xanthos.

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