Hot Stuff, ancient Eridanus ist not Italian river Po! Old misconception finally corrected

Hot Stuff: Ancient Eridanus Is Not the Italian River Po – A Long-Standing Misconception CorrectedDr. Kai Helge WirthMarch 8, 2023 (Updated June 25, 2024)

The constellation Eridanus derives its name from the Greek word dános, meaning river—thus, “River Eri” or “Erid.” Traditionally, scholars identified Eridanus with the Italian River Po. However, ancient Greek sources such as Hesiod and Herodotus provide detailed descriptions that contradict this assumption.

Key Ancient Descriptions of Eridanos:

1. Eridanos lies north of the land of the Hyperboreans, in the far north, and the river is described as flowing upstream at times.

2. The river is associated with amber deposits.

3. It flows northward into the ocean.

Identifying the Real Eridanos

Only one river on Earth meets all these criteria simultaneously: the Eider River in what was formerly Danish territory (now Schleswig-Holstein, Germany). The Eider was of great economic and cultural importance in antiquity for several reasons:

• It experiences tidal flows twice daily, causing the river to flow upstream far into its delta.

• The majority of amber traded during the Bronze Age originated from the Baltic region near the Eider and was transported as far as Egypt via the ancient Amber Road.

• It empties into the ocean in northern Europe.

Correlation with the Constellation

A projection comparing the terrestrial Eider River and the original shape of the Eridanus constellation (excluding southern stars added in the 12th century) reveals a remarkable similarity. This supports the hypothesis that the ancient Eridanus represents the Eider, not the River Po.

Cultural Context

According to Tacitus, the inhabitants around the Eider worshipped the goddess Isis, indicating a cultural exchange possibly linked to maritime trade. These people buried their kings in ships to symbolically send them northwards—to the heavens.

Historical Clarification

The constellation Eridanus was significantly extended southward by an Arab astronomer in the 12th century, which is why modern star charts show it as much larger than originally conceived. The original form corresponds closely to the shape linked here with the Eider River.

Thank you for reading!For more information, see the YouTube channel: Dr. Kai Helge Wirth

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