TheJaci orAci (Sicilian:Ciumi di Aci or [Eastern Sicilian [it]]Jaci;Italian:Fiume di Aci orJaci;Latin:Acis;Ancient Greek:Ἄκις,romanized: Ákis) was a river ofSicily,Italy on the eastern coast of the island, and immediately at the foot ofMount Etna.
It rose under a rock of lava, and had a very short course to the sea atAcireale (ancientAcium). It is celebrated on account of the mythological fable connected with its origin, which was ascribed to the blood of the youthfulAcis, crushed under an enormous rock by his rivalPolyphemus.[1] It is evidently in allusion to the same story thatTheocritus speaks of the "sacred waters of Acis."[2] From this fable itself we may infer that it was a small stream gushing forth from under a rock; the extreme coldness of its waters noticed bySolinus[3] also points to the same conclusion. There is every appearance that the town of Acium derived its name from the river. The river disappeared during the middle ages due to lava eruptions from Etna.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Acis".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
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