GELA (river in Sicily)
River in Sicily
- Kind of place
- River
- Region
- Sicily
- Where
- 37.06° N, 14.26° E
The place takes its name from a wide river. Aeneid 3.692 The vale of Gela is described as far-spreading. Aeneid 3.692 Gela was founded by Antiphemus and the Lindians of Rhodes during the Dorian migration to Sicily. Herodotus 7.153.1
Described in the sources
Hippocrates held the title of tyrant over Gela after his brother's death. Herodotus 6.23.3 +1 The ancestor of Gelon settled at Gela. Herodotus 7.153.1 Gela was placed under the governance of Hiero. Herodotus 7.156.1 The town of Mactorium is located inland from Gela. Herodotus 7.153.2 The settlement of Gela was uninhabited at the time of writing. Strabo 6.2.6 Cleandrus ruled this city as its tyrant for a period of seven years. Herodotus 7.154.1 Gela was colonized by Antiphemus, who is identified as the brother of Mopsus. Athenaeus 7.51 Telines arrived at this location without an army, relying solely on sacred objects. Herodotus 7.153.3
Gods and worship
Telines' descendants were required to serve as priests of the goddesses here. Herodotus 7.153.3
Stories and history
Gelon defeated the inhabitants of Gela to seize power. Herodotus 7.155.1 Lentils are associated with Gela in a poetic line about oil. Athenaeus 2.74 The Zanclaeans considered this city's ruler to be their ally. Herodotus 6.23.3 Telines used sacred instruments to restore exiles to this place. Herodotus 7.153.3 Gelon relocated more than half of the townsmen from Gela to Syracuse. Herodotus 7.156.2 The statue was taken from Omphace after the town was sacked by Dorians. Pausanias 8.46.2 A local man named Sabyllus killed the tyrant Cleandrus within this city. Herodotus 7.154.1 The Romans handed over the deserted area of Gela to shepherds for grazing. Strabo 6.2.6 Antiphemus, the founder of Gela, brought a statue made by Daedalus to the city. Pausanias 8.46.2