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)
Related terms
- Enchele
- Enchelean
Translations
Illyrian tribe
References
- ^ Šašel Kos, Marjeta (1993) “Cadmus and Harmonia in Illyria”, in Arheološki Vestnik[1], volume 44, archived from the original on 19 April 2022, page 119