Padus

(now called the Po ), a river in Italy, known also by the name of Eridanus , which forms the northern boundary of the territories of Italy. It rises in mount Vesulus, one of the highest mountains of the Alps, and after it has collected in its course the waters of above 30 rivers, discharges itself in an eastern direction into the Adriatic sea by seven mouths, two of which only, the Plana or Volano, and the Padusa, were formed by nature. It was formerly said that it rolled gold dust in its sand, which was carefully searched by the inhabitants. The consuls Caius Flam in i us Nepos and Publius Furius Philus were the first Roman generals who cro ed it. The Po is famous for the death of Phaeton, who, as the poets mention, was thrown down there by the thunderbolts of Jupiter. Ovid , Metamorphoses , bk. 2 , li. 258 , . — Mela , bk. 2 , ch. 4 .— Lucan , bk. 2 , . — Virgil , Æneid , bk. 9 , li. 680 .— Strabo , bk. 5 .— Pliny , bk. 37 , ch. 2 .