Maeander

Maeander, also spelled Meander, is the traditional name for a river in western Anatolia, now known as the Büyük Menderes. The river runs through the Aegean region of what is now Turkey and is famed for its long, serpentine path, which gave rise to the modern adjective meandering, used to describe winding rivers, roads, or coastlines.

Etymology: The ancient Greek name of the river was Maiandros (Meander). The word meander entered English from the river's name and became a general term for winding forms.

Cultural and decorative influence: The meander motif, also known as the Greek key, is a continuous geometric pattern used in Greek and Roman art and architecture. The pattern's name derives from its resemblance to the river's convoluted bends.

Geography and hydrology: The Büyük Menderes flows toward the Aegean Sea in western Turkey. Historically it carried significant sediment into the region's plains and has a highly sinuous channel and broad floodplain; like many large meandering rivers, it has formed oxbow lakes and cutoffs.

Legacy and usage: The term meander figures in linguistics and literature as a metaphor for wanderings or meandering style. The river remains a symbol of the region's geography and has left its mark in both natural history and art.