A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

(Ἀντίφημος), the Rhodian, founder of Gela, B. C. 690. The colony was composed of Rhodians and Cretans, the latter led by Entimus the Cretan (Thuc. 6.4, and Schol. ad Pind. Ol. 2.14), the former chiefly from Lindus (Hdt. 7.153), and to this town Antiphemus himself (Philostephanus, apud Athen. vii. p. 297f.) belonged. From the Etym. Magn. (s. v. Γέλα) and Aristaenetus in Steph. Byzantinus (s. v. Γέλα) it appears the tale ran, that he and his brother Lacius, the founder of Phaselis, were, when at Delphi, suddenly bid to go forth, one eastward, one westward; and from his laughing at the unexpected response, the city took its name. From Pausanias (8.46.2) we hear of his taking the Sicanian town of Omphace, and carrying off from it a statue made by Daedalus. Müller (Dor. 1.6. §§ 5, 6) considers him a mythical person. (See Böckh, Comm. ad Pind. p. 115; Clinton, F.H. B. C. 690; Hermann, Pol. Anstiq. § 85; Göller, de Orig. Syracus. p. 265.)

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