Geloni
- a Scythian people, on the Borysthenes, in the modern Ukraine, Mel. 2, 1, 13; Plin. 4, 12, 26, § 88; Verg. G. 2, 115; id. A. 8, 725; Hor. C. 2, 9, 23; 2, 20, 19; 3, 4, 35.—In sing.: Gĕlō-nus, i, m., the Gelonian, collect., Verg. G. 3, 461.—
- II Deriv.: Gĕlōnus, a, um, adj., of or belonging to the Geloni, Gelonian: canes, Grat. Cyneg. 195.
GELO´NI (Γελωνοί, Hdt. 4.108; Plin. Nat. 4.12; Ammian. 31.2.14), a people associated with the Budini [BUDINI] by Herodotus (l. c.).
Schafarik (Slav. Alt. vol. 1. p. 186) remarks that, beyond the mention in Herodotus, nothing is known about the Geloni. The later writers appear to have misunderstood his statement while repeating it. It is possible that the name Geloni might be formed out of that of Hellenes among the Slaves and Fins. Such Μιξέλληνες were common enough in the towns upon the Euxine. Schafarik, who believes the Budini to belong to the Slavic family, asserts that the wooden town GELONUS, described as being in the middle of the Budini, is an exact representation of the primitive Slavic towns down even to the twelfth century. (Comp. Grote, Hist. of Greece, vol. 3. p. 327.)
[E.B.J](Γελωνοί). A Scythian people, dwelling in Sarmatia Asiatica, to the east of the river Tanaïs (Don) (Herod.iv. 108). Their chief city was called Golonus.
- said to be of Greek origin: Hdt. 4.108
- their part in the campaign against Darius: Hdt. 4.102, Hdt. 4.119, Hdt. 4.136