Phlegethon

[fleg-uh-thon, flej-]

noun

1. Also called Pyriphlegethon. Classical Mythology.,  a river of fire, one of five rivers surrounding Hades.

2. (often lowercase),  a stream of fire or fiery light.

Phlegethon

/ ˈflɛɡɪˌθɒn /

noun

1. Greek myth a river of fire in Hades

Other Word Forms

• Phlegethontal adjective
• Phlegethontic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Phlegethon¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; late Middle English, from Latin, from Greek phlegéthōn “blazing, flaming,” noun use of present participle of phlegéthein “to blaze”; phlegm

Word History and Origins

Origin of Phlegethon¹

C14: from Greek, literally: blazing, from phlegethein to flame, blaze

Example Sentences

Their tattered clothes steamed from the heat of the river, but they kept going until they crumpled to their knees at the banks of the Phlegethon.

From Literature

“The Phlegethon flows from Hades’s realm down into Tartarus.”

From Literature

“The Phlegethon keeps the wicked in one piece so that they can endure the torments of the Fields of Punishment. I think...it might be the Underworld equivalent of ambrosia and nectar.”

From Literature

Drinking from the Phlegethon was like gulping down a ghost chili smoothie.

From Literature

Now there were only two choices: downriver or upriver, skirting the banks of the Phlegethon.

From Literature