What was the other name of the river Scamander?

The other name of the river Scamander was Xanthus, also spelled Xanthos. In Homer's Iliad, the gods call the river Xanthus, while human characters generally call it Scamander.

The river flowed across the plain below Troy and became a major feature of the Trojan War's battlefield. Homer presents it as a powerful stream with two springs near Troy: one warm and one cold, even though the seasons changed. The Achaeans camped near its mouth, and many battles took place along its banks.

Scamander was more than a geographical landmark. In the poem, the river is personified as a divine being who supports the Trojans. After Achilles insults him and fills his waters with corpses, Scamander rises against Achilles. Hera calls on Hephaestus, whose fire forces the river back.

Xanthus can mean yellow or fair-haired, and the name may refer to the river's muddy or yellowish water. Readers may also encounter the forms Skamandros and Scamandrus in Greek and Latin contexts.