Crinisus (river)

Crimisus or Crinisus (modern Freddo)
Location
CountrySicily
Physical characteristics
Mouth 
 • location
Tyrrhenian Sea
Length23 km (14 mi) ?

Crimisus or Crinisus is an ancient Greek river name in Sicily. The name was derived from Crinisus and it corresponds either to the modern Freddo[1] or Caltabellota[2] on northwest Sicily. It is formed by two rivers that meet at about 8 kilometres (5 mi) from Castellammare del Golfo in the province of Trapani. The western river starts from Monte Busecchio near Calatafimi and the eastern river from the Gola di Sorice near Alcamo. The two rivers are also traditionally called the "hot river" (western) and the "cold river" (eastern) and in Italian language the Crinisus is called Fiume Freddo that means cold river.

The Battle of the Crimissus, fought at a crossing of this river, was an important turning point in the ancient world between Carthage and the Greek City State of Syracuse in 339 BC.[3]

  1. ^ Totius Latinitatis Onomasticon (in Latin). 1868.
  2. ^ Lempriere (1831). A Classical Dictionary containing a copious account of all Mn. proper names mentioned in ancient authors... and cronologicae Table The sixteerth edition, corrected. T. Cadell.
  3. ^ Public Domain Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Crimisus". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.