SPERCHEIUS
SPERCHEIUS (
Σπερχειός:
Elládha), a river in the S. of Thessaly, rising in Mount Tymphrestus (
Strab. ix. p.433), and flowing into the Maliac gulf. The Dryopes and Aenianes dwelt in the upper part of its course till it entered the plain of Malis, through which it flowed to the sea.
In ancient times it joined the sea at Anticyra; and the rivers Dyras, Melas, and Asopus fell separately into the sea to the S. of the Spercheius. (
Hdt. 7.198.)
But the Spercheius has changed its course, and now falls into the sea much further south, about a mile from Thermopylae. The Dyras and Melas now unite their streams, and fall into the Spercheius, as does also the Asopus. [
THERMOPYLAE] Spercheius is celebrated in mythology as a river-god [
Dict. of Biogr. s. v.], and is mentioned in connection with Achilles. (
Hom. Il. 17.142.) Its name also frequently occurs in the other poets. (
Aesch. Pers. 486; Sophocl.
Phil. 722;
Verg. G. 2.485;
Lucan 6.366.) (Leake,
Northern Greece, vol. ii. pp. 8, 11, 15.)
