The Sinni (

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

: Siris or Semnus;

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

: or ) is a 94 km long river in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. In antiquity, the city of

Siris Siris may refer to: Geography *Siris (Magna Graecia), an ancient city in southern Italy *Serres, a city in Macedonia called Siris by the Ancient Greek historian Herodotus * Siris, Sardinia, an Italian commune *Sinni (river) (Siris in Latin), Italy ...

lay at its mouth. Near the town of

Senise Senise is a town in the province of Potenza, Basilicata, southern Italy. It is near Monte Cotugno Lake, one of the largest artificial basins in Europe. Twin towns * Busto Garolfo Busto Garolfo ( Lombard: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in th ...

, a dam on the river was built in 1970-1982, the largest in Europe built with earth. In correspondence of it, it forms the , one of the largest artificial basins in Italy.

Geography

The source of the river is in the Lucan Apennines west of

Castelsaraceno Castelsaraceno ( Lucano: ) is a town and ''comune The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' reg ...

and south of

Moliterno Moliterno ( Lucano: ''Mulitiernu'') is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Potenza, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata. It is bounded by the comuni of Castelsaraceno, Grumento Nova, Lagonegro, Lauria, Montesano sulla Marcellana, ...

in the province of Potenza. The river flows south before curving eastward near Monte la Spina. It flows near

Latronico Latronico ( Latronichese: ) is a town and ''comune The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' re ...

before entering the Parco Nazionale del Pollino. The river is joined by a right tributary near

Francavilla in Sinni Francavilla in Sinni ( Lucano: ) is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, Basilicata, in southern Italy. History The town was founded in 1426. It had a charterhouse, destroyed in early 19th century by the Grande Armée of Napoleon, whe ...

before flowing into Lago di Monte Cotugno. The river exits the lake and forms the border between the province of Potenza and the

province of Matera The province of Matera ( it, Provincia di Matera; Materano: ) is a province in the Basilicata region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Matera. It has an area of and a total population of 201,133; the city Matera has a population of 61,204. Th ...

for a short distance before entering the province of Matera. The Sarmento River flows into the Sinni as a right tributary at the point where the Sinni leaves the Parco Nazionale del Pollino. The Sinni curves northeast and flows near Colobraro and

Valsinni Valsinni is a village and ''comune'' in the province of Matera, in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. The village is bordered by Colobraro, Nocara, Noepoli, Nova Siri, Rotondella and San Giorgio Lucano. History The territory of the "comun ...

before curving southeast and finally flowing into the Gulf of Taranto south of

Policoro Policoro ( Lucano: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. With some 17,000 inhabitants, is bounded by the towns of Rotondella, Scanzano Jonico and Tursi. Situated on the coast, its po ...

History

The river Siris is mentioned by Lycophron (''Alex.'' 982), as well as by Archilochus (ap. Athen. xii. p. 523); but the former author calls it , and its modern name of Sinno would seem to be derived from an ancient period; for we find mention in the

Tabula Peutingeriana ' (Latin for "The Peutinger Map"), also referred to as Peutinger's Tabula or Peutinger Table, is an illustrated ' (ancient Roman road map) showing the layout of the '' cursus publicus'', the road network of the Roman Empire. The map is a 13th-ce ...

of a station 4 miles from Heracleia, the name of which is written ''Semnum'', probably a corruption for ''Ad Simnum'' or ''Sinnum''. The Siris and Aciris (modern Agri) are mentioned in conjunction by

Pliny Pliny may refer to: People * Pliny the Elder (23–79 CE), ancient Roman nobleman, scientist, historian, and author of ''Naturalis Historia'' (''Pliny's Natural History'') * Pliny the Younger (died 113), ancient Roman statesman, orator, w ...

as well as by Strabo, and are two of the most considerable streams in

Lucania Lucania was a historical region of Southern Italy. It was the land of the Lucani, an Oscan people. It extended from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Gulf of Taranto. It bordered with Samnium and Campania in the north, Apulia in the east, and Bruttiu ...

. (Plin. iii. 11. s. 15; Strab. vi. p. 264.) The name of the former river is noticed also in connection with the first great battle between Pyrrhus and the

Romans Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

, 280 BCE, which was fought upon its banks ( Plut. ''Pyrrh.'' 16). It has been confounded by Florus and Orosius with the Liri in

Campania (man), it, Campana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , demog ...

. (Flor. i. 18. § 7; Oros. iv. 1.)

References

External links

{{Authority control Drainage basins of the Ionian Sea Rivers of the Province of Potenza Rivers of the Province of Matera Rivers of Italy Braided rivers in Italy