Enchelei

English

Alternative forms
  • Encheleii

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Ἐγχέλιοι (Enkhélioi), from ἔγχελυς (énkhelus, “eel”). Possibly from the Illyrian cognate of the word, itself closely related to Albanian ngjalë (“eel”). This is made further plausible by the word being found with a -γγ- (-ng-) in place of -γχ- (-nkh-) in Mnaseas.[1] The demonym can be traced back to mythology, where Cadmus, become king of this people, turns into a serpent.

Noun

Enchelei pl (plural only)

  1. (historical) An ancient Illyrian tribe inhabiting Enchele.

Translations

References
  1. Šašel Kos, Marjeta (1993) “Cadmus and Harmonia in Illyria”, in Arheološki Vestnik‎, volume 44, archived from the original on 2022-04-19, page 119

Further reading
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