Grande River (Sicily)
Encyclopedia
The Grande River is a river of Sicily
, rising in the heights near Cozzo Levanche, and flowing approximately 35 km, through the comuni
of Caltavuturo
, Campofelice di Roccella
, Cerda
, Collesano
, Scillato
, Sclafani Bagni
, Termini Imerese
and Valledolmo
(all in the Province of Palermo
) to the Tyrrhenian Sea
at the site of the ancient city of Himera
. The drainage area is approximately 342 km², making it one of the principal rivers of Sicily to flow into the Tyrrhenian.
) to the south coast of the island, but which, by a strange confusion, were regarded by many ancient writers as one and the same river, which is in consequence described as rising in the center of the island, and flowing in two different directions, so as completely to divide Sicily into two parts. It is singular that, if we may believe Vibius Sequester
, this absurd notion is as old as the time of Stesichorus
, who was himself a native of the city of Himera. Pomponius Mela
is, however, the only one of the ancient geographers who adopts it.
The northern Himera (the Grande), a much less considerable stream than the southern Himer (the Salso), is uniformly described as flowing by the city
to which it gave its name; and Pindar
speaks of the great victory of Gelon
(which we know to have been fought in the immediate vicinity of the city) as gained upon the banks of the fair waters of the Himera. Hence its identification with the modern Grande was necessarily connected with the determination of the site of that city, a question which was the subject formerly of dispute. Theocritus more than once alludes to the river Himera as a celebrated Sicilian stream; but in such general terms as to afford no indication which of the two rivers he means: the Scholiast, however, understands him to refer to the northern Himera.
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, rising in the heights near Cozzo Levanche, and flowing approximately 35 km, through the comuni
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Caltavuturo
Caltavuturo
Caltavuturo is a town and comune in the Province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy. The neighboring comunes are Polizzi Generosa, Scillato and Sclafani Bagni.-History:...
, Campofelice di Roccella
Campofelice di Roccella
Campofelice di Roccella is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region of Sicily, located about 50 km southeast of Palermo...
, Cerda
Cerda
Cerda is a comune in the province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 45 km southeast of Palermo.Cerda borders the following municipalities: Aliminusa, Collesano, Sciara, Scillato, Sclafani Bagni, Termini Imerese....
, Collesano
Collesano
Collesano is a small town in the Province of Palermo, Sicily. It is situated roughly 70 km from the provincial capital of Palermo.-External links:*...
, Scillato
Scillato
Scillato is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 60 km southeast of Palermo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 671 and an area of 30.8 km²....
, Sclafani Bagni
Sclafani Bagni
Sclafani Bagni is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 50 km southeast of Palermo....
, Termini Imerese
Termini Imerese
Termini Imerese is a town and comune in the province of Palermo on the northern coast of Sicily, southern Italy.-Ancient:The site where the town now sits has been populated since prehistoric times, as many archeologial excavations have shown through the years...
and Valledolmo
Valledolmo
Valledolmo is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 60 km southeast of Palermo...
(all in the Province of Palermo
Province of Palermo
The Province of Palermo is a province in the autonomous region of Sicily, a major island in Southern Italy. Its capital is the city of Palermo. The Province of Palermo has 82 comuni , 1,239,272 inhabitants, and is 4,992 km² .-External links:...
) to the Tyrrhenian Sea
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy.-Geography:The sea is bounded by Corsica and Sardinia , Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Basilicata and Calabria and Sicily ....
at the site of the ancient city of Himera
Himera
thumb|250px|Remains of the Temple of Victory.thumb|250px|Ideal reconstruction of the Temple of Victory.Himera , was an important ancient Greek city of Sicily, situated on the north coast of the island, at the mouth of the river of the same name , between Panormus and Cephaloedium...
. The drainage area is approximately 342 km², making it one of the principal rivers of Sicily to flow into the Tyrrhenian.
Historical significance
Himera was the ancient name of two rivers in Sicily, the Grande flowing to the north into the Tyrrhenian Sea, the other (the Salso RiverSalso River
The River Salso , also known as the Imera Meridionale , is a river of Sicily. It rises in the Madonie Mountains and, traversing the provinces of Enna and Caltanissetta, flows into the Mediterranean at the western end of the Gulf of Gela at the seaport of Licata, in the Province of...
) to the south coast of the island, but which, by a strange confusion, were regarded by many ancient writers as one and the same river, which is in consequence described as rising in the center of the island, and flowing in two different directions, so as completely to divide Sicily into two parts. It is singular that, if we may believe Vibius Sequester
Vibius Sequester
Vibius Sequester , is the author of an alphabetical list of geographical names occurring in the Roman poets, with special reference to Virgil, Ovid and Lucan...
, this absurd notion is as old as the time of Stesichorus
Stesichorus
Stesichorus was the first great poet of the Greek West. He is best known for telling epic stories in lyric metres but he is also famous for some ancient traditions about his life, such as his opposition to the tyrant Phalaris, and the blindness he is said to have incurred and cured by composing...
, who was himself a native of the city of Himera. Pomponius Mela
Pomponius Mela
Pomponius Mela, who wrote around AD 43, was the earliest Roman geographer. He was born in Tingentera and died c. AD 45.His short work occupies less than one hundred pages of ordinary print. It is laconic in style and deficient in method, but of pure Latinity, and occasionally relieved by pleasing...
is, however, the only one of the ancient geographers who adopts it.
The northern Himera (the Grande), a much less considerable stream than the southern Himer (the Salso), is uniformly described as flowing by the city
Himera
thumb|250px|Remains of the Temple of Victory.thumb|250px|Ideal reconstruction of the Temple of Victory.Himera , was an important ancient Greek city of Sicily, situated on the north coast of the island, at the mouth of the river of the same name , between Panormus and Cephaloedium...
to which it gave its name; and Pindar
Pindar
Pindar , was an Ancient Greek lyric poet. Of the canonical nine lyric poets of ancient Greece, his work is the best preserved. Quintilian described him as "by far the greatest of the nine lyric poets, in virtue of his inspired magnificence, the beauty of his thoughts and figures, the rich...
speaks of the great victory of Gelon
Gelon
Gelon may refer to:*Gelo, tyrant of Gela and Syracuse in the 5th century BC*Gelonus, a legendary city of the Gelonians in Scythia....
(which we know to have been fought in the immediate vicinity of the city) as gained upon the banks of the fair waters of the Himera. Hence its identification with the modern Grande was necessarily connected with the determination of the site of that city, a question which was the subject formerly of dispute. Theocritus more than once alludes to the river Himera as a celebrated Sicilian stream; but in such general terms as to afford no indication which of the two rivers he means: the Scholiast, however, understands him to refer to the northern Himera.