Original scientific paper

The Noarus River in Strabo’s Geography

Marjeta Šašel Kos

Abstract

Strabo is the only ancient author who twice mentioned an elsewhere unknown Noarus River near Segestica (close to Siscia, present-day Sisak in Croatia). The Noarus is mentioned in context of the trade route Aquileia–Tergeste–Nauportus–Segestica, therefore rivers that have no connection with the Segestica/Siscia region cannot be considered for possible identification. According to Strabo’s description, the Noarus can best be identified with the lower course of the Savus River, since the Colapis indeed empties into it at Segestica/Siscia, and it indeed flows into the Danuvius/Ister in the region of the Scordisci, at Singidunum (= Belgrade). The identification is also well corroborated by the second passage in which the Noarus is mentioned. Noarus may be an older name for the Savus, or another name (taken from some other language) for this important river, or an older name for its lower course, which was applied to it when the entire course of the river had not been entirely clear.

Keywords

Sava river; Scordisci; Siscia; Noarus; Strabo Ponticus; ancient geography; hydronymy

Hrčak ID:

164539

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/164539

Publication date:

15.10.2015.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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