Celtine
Celtine
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Celtine

The princess Celtine (Ancient Greek: Κελτίνη, romanizedKeltínē) or Celto (Ancient Greek: Κελτώ, romanizedKeltṓ) is the protagonist of a Celtic ancestral myth that was recorded by several Graeco-Roman authors.

The Graeco-Roman author Diodorus of Sicily recorded one version of the Celtic genealogical myth. Diodurus's account connects the hero to the foundation of Alesia:

The Greek author Parthenius of Nicaea recorded another version of this Celtic genealogical myth:

A third version of the Celtic genealogical myth was recorded in the Etymologicum Magnum:

The combination of the three versions provides a common narrative:

In a similar account, sourced to author Timagenes, Hercules fights against "tyrants" Geryon and Tauriscus and releases Gaul. In return, he mates with a local high-born woman and begets numerous children. Also, it is during his Tenth Labor that Hercules journeys through the Gallic coast.

Another narrative, by poet Silius Italicus (this time inserted into his epic poem), tells of Hercules guiding the cattle of Geryon and meeting king Bebruces. The Greek hero also lies with his daughter Pyrene and she gives birth to a snake. Ashamed, she takes refuge in the caves, and is eventually killed by wild animals. Hercules finds her mutilated body and cries over his lost love.

This legend was very similar to the Scythians genealogical myth, with common elements including Heracles driving the cattle of Geryon from Iberia to Greece, and then meeting with a local woman who abducted his horses, having sexual intercourse with the woman, and the birth from this union of a son who founded a nation and became king by pulling his father's bow.

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