Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
UNFORGETTABLE RIVER
When Roman soldiers reached the Rio Lima in 137 BC, they were convinced they had reached the River Lethe,
the mythical river of forgetfulness that flowed through Hades and from which no man could return. Unable to
persuade his troops to cross the waters leading to certain oblivion, the Roman general Decimus Junius Brutus
Callaicus forged the river alone. Once on the other side he called out to his men, shouting each of their names.
Stunned that the general could remember them, they followed after him and continued their campaign. Incident-
ally, Brutus, who led legions to conquer Iberia after Viriato's death, was later named proconsul of Lusitania.
