RHY´NDACUS
RHY´NDACUS (
Ῥυνδακός), an important river in the province of Hellespontus, which has its sources at the foot of Mount Olympus in Phrygia Epictetus, near the town of Azani. (
Scylax, p. 35;
Plin. Nat. 5.40; Pomp. Mela, 1.19;
Strab. xii. p.576.)
According to Pliny, it was at one time called Lycus, and had its origin in the lake of Miletopolis ; but this notion is incorrect.
The river flows at first in a north-western direction, forming the boundary between Mysia and Bithynia, through the lake of Apollonia, and in the neighbourhood of Miletopolis receives the river Megistus, and discharges itself into the Propontis opposite the island of Besbicus.
[p. 2.717]The Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius (1.1165) states that in later times the Rhyndacus, after receiving the waters of the Megistus, was itself called Megistus; but Eustathius (
ad Hom. Il. 13.771) assures us that in his time it still bore the name of Rhyndacus.
According to Valerius Flaccus (3.35) its yellow waters were discernible in the sea at a great distance from its mouth. In B.C. 73 Lucullus gained a victory over Mitlhridates on the banks of this river. (
Plut. Luc. 11; comp.
Plb. 5.17;
Ptol. 5.1. § § 4, 8;
Steph. B. sub voce The Rhyndacus is now called
Lupad, and after its union with the Megistus (
Susughirli) it bears the name of
Mohalidsh or
Micalitza. (See Hamilton's
Researches, i. p. 83, &c.)
[
L.S]
