Σιλην-ός

Grammatical information: m.

Meaning: `Silenus', often in plur. as a des. of mythical creatures, that act as companions of nymphs and of Dionysos, and that are, like the centaurs, depicted with horselike characteristics (h. Ven. 262).

Other forms: Dor. Σῑλανός.

Derivatives: σιλην-ώδης `silenus-like', - ικός `concerning the S.' (Pl. Smp.; Chantraine Études 150). PN Σιλην-ός (-ᾱν-ός), - ίων.

Origin: PG [a word of Pre-Greek origin]

Etymology: Like the word σάτυρος (s. v. w. lit.) etymol. dark. Kretschmer Glotta 2, 398 reminds of a Thrac. word for wine, ζίλαι, ζειλα, ζελᾶς, ζήλας (H., Phot., Choerob., Hdn.; s. Lagercrantz IF 25, 363ff.). Diff. Solmsen and Lagercrantz, s. Kretschmer Glotta 4, 351ff. (rejecting). Not better Pisani Stud. itfilcl. N.S. 11, 224f. (from Thrac. *ΣιλϜᾱνος = Lat. Silvānus); Grošelj Živa Ant. 1, 127 f. ("the hairy"; to σιλλοί [cod. - έα] τρίχωμα H.). -- On the formation also Detschew KZ 63, 229; on the meaning also Brommer Phil. 94, 222ff. -- Furnée 234 n. 27 gives more instances of σ\/ζ.

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