Indus Rivers - names both ancient and modern
I was looking this up today and thought I would put it down here for my own reference, since the Ancient Greek names of these rivers always confuse me - the names of the Indus River tributaries that Alexander encountered in India.
The Indus River (Sindhu to Indians) and five of its tributaries made up the Punjab region that Alexander came to. From West to East, the rivers are:
(Modern name(s) ..... Ancient Indian and/or Vedic name ..... Ancient Greek name)
Link to: Map of Punjab rivers
Indus/Sindhu ........ Sindhu ....... Indus
Jhelum ...... Vitasta ....... Hydaspes
Chenab ..... Askhini/Iskmati ....... Acesines
Ravi ......... Parushani/Iravati ...... Hydraotes
Beas ....... Arjiki/Vipas ............... Hyphasis
Sutlej/Shatadru ....... Shatadru or Satudri ..... Zaradros/Hesidros
Given the ancient Indian names of these rivers, one can see how the Greek names were derived. Well, in some cases, it's not ALL that clear.
Hephaistion bridged the Indus.
They fought and conquered Porus' lands along the Jhelum (Hydaspes).
The army refused to go further at the Beas (Hyphasis) - MUTINY time. So, this was the easternmost that Alexander travelled in India. So... poor Alexander never had a chance to see the Sutlej (Zaradros)?
Going back west across the rivers, Alexander came back between the Chenab (Akesines) and the Ravi (Hydraotes). He marched down with a portion of the army between the rivers, while Hephaistion marched down with another branch of the army on the eastern side of the Ravi to wait at the junction of the two, five miles away from the Mallian city. Hephaistion and Nearchus were to establish a base camp at the junction. Krateros was marching down the western side of the Chenab with the baggage train. After Alexander was wounded at Mallia, he sailed five miles down the river to the main base camp at the junction and joined the main army.
They all sailed merrily down the Indus to the delta.
The Indus River (Sindhu to Indians) and five of its tributaries made up the Punjab region that Alexander came to. From West to East, the rivers are:
(Modern name(s) ..... Ancient Indian and/or Vedic name ..... Ancient Greek name)
Link to: Map of Punjab rivers
Indus/Sindhu ........ Sindhu ....... Indus
Jhelum ...... Vitasta ....... Hydaspes
Chenab ..... Askhini/Iskmati ....... Acesines
Ravi ......... Parushani/Iravati ...... Hydraotes
Beas ....... Arjiki/Vipas ............... Hyphasis
Sutlej/Shatadru ....... Shatadru or Satudri ..... Zaradros/Hesidros
Given the ancient Indian names of these rivers, one can see how the Greek names were derived. Well, in some cases, it's not ALL that clear.
Hephaistion bridged the Indus.
They fought and conquered Porus' lands along the Jhelum (Hydaspes).
The army refused to go further at the Beas (Hyphasis) - MUTINY time. So, this was the easternmost that Alexander travelled in India. So... poor Alexander never had a chance to see the Sutlej (Zaradros)?
Going back west across the rivers, Alexander came back between the Chenab (Akesines) and the Ravi (Hydraotes). He marched down with a portion of the army between the rivers, while Hephaistion marched down with another branch of the army on the eastern side of the Ravi to wait at the junction of the two, five miles away from the Mallian city. Hephaistion and Nearchus were to establish a base camp at the junction. Krateros was marching down the western side of the Chenab with the baggage train. After Alexander was wounded at Mallia, he sailed five miles down the river to the main base camp at the junction and joined the main army.
They all sailed merrily down the Indus to the delta.