Abe'llio
is the name of a divinity found in inscriptions which were discovered at Comminges in France. (Gruter,
Inscr. p. 37, 4; J. Scaliger,
Lectiones Ausonianae, 1.9.) Buttmann (
Mythologus, i. p. 167, &c.) considers Abellio to be the same name as Apollo, who in Crete and elsewhere was called
Ἀβέλιος, and by the Italians and some Dorians Apello (Fest.
s. v. Apellinem ; Eustath.
ad Il. 2.99), and that the deity is the same as the Gallie Apollo mentioned by Caesar (
Bell. Gall. 6.17), and also the same as Belis or Belenus mentioned by Tertullian (
Apologet. 23) and Herodian (8.3; comp. Capitol.
Maximin. 22).
As the root of the word he recognises the Spartan
Βέλα,
i.e. the sun (Hesych.
s. v.), which appears in the Syriac and Chaldaic Belus or Baal.
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