MAEANDER (river in Ionia)
River in Turkey
- Also called
- Great Menderes River
- Kind of place
- River
- Region
- Ionia
- Where
- 37.54° N, 27.17° E
The river is characterized by a twisty, winding, and excessively tortuous course. Herodotus 2.29.3 All windings are called Maeanders because of this river's course. Strabo 12.8.15 The Maeander empties into the sea at Miletus. Pausanias 2.5.3
Described in the sources
The river Marsyas flows into the Maeander. Herodotus 5.118.1 +3 The Maeander flows down from Celaenae through the territories of the Phrygians and Carians. Herodotus 7.26.3 +3 The Maeander is a river in Turkey. Pausanias 2.5.3 +2 The Maeander River marks the boundary between the regions of Caria and Lydia at the plain of the Meander. Strabo 12.8.15 +2 The Lethaeus river flows into the Maeander. Strabo 12.3.27 +1 The city of Magnesia is situated above the river Maeander. Herodotus 3.122.1 +1 The Magnetes, who founded a Roman colony, live near this river. Athenaeus 12.29 +1 The plain of the Maeander is cited as an example of land that was once a sea gulf. Herodotus 2.10.1 +1 The city of Antioch is situated on the banks of the river, and the fertile land on both sides belongs to it. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 5.29 ¶4 +1 The Maeander contains cat-fish. Pausanias 4.34.2
Gods and worship
The river directs its wandering waves. Seneca, Phoenissae act 4 ¶8
Stories and history
The river converted the sea between Priene and Miletus into mainland land, turning Priene into an inland city by depositing alluvial earth. Pausanias 8.24.11 +1 The river's course is intricate and winding, with a wandering current that moves backwards and forwards, alternating between pointing toward its source and the sea, making it difficult to distinguish between neighboring peoples. Ovid Met. 8.152-182 +1 A bridge is built over the river. Strabo 13.4.15 It provides water to many cities along its path. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 5.31 ¶1 The river deposits some alluvial soil along the shore. Strabo 12.8.17 Nastes fell into the river during combat against Achilles. Iliad 2 ¶83 The river accepts numerous tributary streams into its flow. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 5.31 ¶1 The river's path frequently turns back and then bends around again. Pausanias 8.41.3 The river forces the remaining alluvial soil to drift into the open sea. Strabo 12.8.17 The river is accused of moving land by eroding the corners of its bends. Strabo 12.8.19
Myths set at Maeander
- The Discovery of the Flutes. Marsyas finds flutes that Athena discarded, leading to a confrontation where he is punished. The flutes are eventually destroyed by fire and carried away by a river. Apollodorus 1.4.2 +2 Marsyas