Simoeis

Water, or the fight of Achilles against Scamander and Simoeis by Auguste Couder (1819), decoration of the Rotonde d'Apollon in the Palais du Louvre.

Simoeis or Simois[1] /ˈsɪmoʊɪs/ (Ancient Greek: Σιμόεις Simóeis) was a river of the Trojan plain, now called the Dümruk Su (Dümrek Çayı),[2] and the name of its god in Greek mythology.

River

The Simoeis was a small river of the ancient Troad, having its source in Mount Ida, or more accurately in Mount Cotylus, which passed by Troy, joined the Scamander River below that city. This river is frequently spoken of in the Iliad, and described as a rapid mountain torrent.[3] The river is also noted by the ancient geographers Strabo,[4] Ptolemy,[5] Stephanus of Byzantium,[6] Pomponius Mela,[7] and Pliny the Elder.[8] Its present course is so altered that it is no longer a tributary of the Scamander, but flows directly into the Hellespont.

Family

Like other river-gods, Simoeis was the son of Oceanus and Tethys.[9] Simoeis had two daughters who were married into the Trojan royal family. One daughter, Astyoche, was married to Erichthonius, and the other daughter, Hieromneme was the wife of Assaracus.

Mythology

When the gods took sides in the Trojan War, Simoeis supported the Trojans. Scamander, another river who also supported the Trojans, called upon Simoeis for help in his battle against Achilles:

"Come to my aid with all speed, fill your streams with water from your springs, stir up all your torrents, stand high in a great wave, and rouse a mighty roar of timbers and rocks, so we can stop this savage man who in his strength is raging like the gods." (Iliad, 21.311-15).

Before Simoeis could respond, Hephaestus was able to save Achilles by subduing Scamander with flame.

Trojan descendants

References

  1. ^ Or Simoïs
  2. ^ Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 56, and directory notes accompanying. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9.
  3. ^ Homer. Iliad. Vol. 4.475, 5.774, 12.22, 21.308.
  4. ^ Strabo. Geographica. Vol. xiii. p.597. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
  5. ^ Ptolemy. The Geography. Vol. 5.2.3.
  6. ^ Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. Vol. s.v. Σιμόεις.
  7. ^ Pomponius Mela. De situ orbis. Vol. 1.18.
  8. ^ Pliny. Naturalis Historia. Vol. 5.33.
  9. ^ Hesiod, Theogony 342 & 366–370

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Simois". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.

  • March, J. Cassell's Dictionary Of Classical Mythology. London, 1999.