Scamander

In Greek mythology, Scamander (Skamandros) was an Oceanid, son of Oceanus and Tethys. By Idaea, he fathered Teucrus.

Scamander fought on the side of the Greeks during the Trojan War (Iliad XX, 73; XXI, 1). In this context, he is the personification of the river that flowed from Mount Ida across the plain beneath the city of Troy, joining the Hellespont some five kilometers the north of the city. The Achaeans, according to Homer, had set up their camp near its mouth, and their battles with the Trojans were fought on the plain of Scamandros.

Strong Helper Hermes was opposed by Leto,
and Hephaestus by that huge and swirling river
the gods call Xanthus, but all men name Scamander.
Iliad Book XX

According to Homer, he was called Scamander by gods and Xanthos by men, which might indicate that the former name refers to the mythological being and the latter one to the river.

The Scamander, Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Achilles pursued by Xanthos

In Iliad XXI he tried, after being mocked by Achilles, to drown him, but was hindered by Hera and Hephaestus.

The modern name of the river is Karamenderes.

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Scamander is also the name of a town on the east coast of Tasmania, Australia.

Greek Mythology

See also : Greek Mythology. Paintings, Drawings

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