Tigris is a river of Armenia flowing into Araxes and the lake of
Arsacis, formerly called Sollax, which signifies running and carried
downward. It was called Tigris upon this occasion.
Bacchus, through the design of Juno running mad, wandered over sea
and land, desirous to be quit of his distemper. At length coming
into Armenia, and not being able to pass the river before-mentioned,
he called upon Jupiter; who, listening to his prayers, sent him a
tiger that carried him safely over the water. In remembrance of which
accident, he called the river Tigris;—as Theophilus relates in his
First Book of Stones. But Hermesianax the Cyprian tells the story
thus:—
Bacchus falling in love with the Nymph Alphesiboea, and being able to
vanquish her neither with presents nor entreaties, turned himself into
the shape of the river Tigris, and overcoming his beloved by fear, took
her away and carrying her over the river, begat a son whom he called
Medus; who growing up in years, in remembrance of the accident he
called the river by the name of Tigris;—as Aristonymus relates in his
Third Book....
In this river a stone is to be found, called myndan, very white;
which whoever possesses shall never be hurt by wild beasts;—as Leo of
Byzantium relates in his Third Book of Rivers.
Near to this river lies the mountain Gauran; so called from Gauran the
son of the satrap Roxanes; who, being extremely religious and devout
towards the Gods, received this reward of his piety, that of all the
Persians he only lived three hundred years; and dying at last without
being ever afflicted with any disease, was buried upon the top of the
mountain Gauran, where he had a sumptuous monument erected to his
memory. Afterwards, by the providence of the Gods, the name of the
mountain was changed to that of Mausorus.
In this mountain grows an herb, which is like to wild barley. This herb
the natives heat over the fire, and anointing themselves with the oil
of it, are never sick, till the necessity of dying overtakes them;—as
Sostratus writes in his First Collection of Fabulous History.