Note 30 — BOOK III
Maurice Platnauer translation
Eridanus was a mythical river of the far West, generally identified with the Latin Padus (mod. Po). Phaëthon is said to have fallen into it when he attempted to drive the horses of his father, the sun. After this Eridanus, the river god, became a constellation—hence Eridanus is said to “wet” the southern sky.