Two Unrecognized Hydronyms on the Island of Crete

Abstract

This paper discusses two possible hydronyms of Ancient Crete. The first question refers to a Cretan river flowing along the boundaries of the ancient city of Lato (IC I, XVI, 5, line 67). It is suggested that the epigraphical phrase καὶ κατὰ ποταμόν “and along a river” should be correctly rendered as καὶ κατὰ Ποταμόν “and along [the river] Potamós”. The ancient river in question is commonly identified as the river called Potamós (or tou Merabéllou to Potámi or Xiropótamos or Xeropótamos ton Potámon), which flowed from the Dicte mountains to the Merabello Bay. It is suggested that the East Cretans preserved the ancient name Ποταμός (literally ‘River’) for more than two millennia. The second problem relates to the Hesychian gloss: †ἀλλάθαρον· ἁλμυρόν. Κρῆτες (“allátharon: something salty. Cretans”). This is a compound noun containing the Greek term ἅλς m. ‘salt’ in the former part and the Anatolian *u̯atharu n. ‘well, spring, source’ (cf. Hittite u̯attaru) in the latter one. The Hesychian gloss may alternatively be interpreted as a proper name Ἀλλάθαρον, which originally denoted a Cretan saltwater source (and river) called Αλμυρός/Αρμυρός in modern times.