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Other ambassadors, among whom was Syagrus from Lacedaemon, were
sent by the allies into Sicily, with instructions to confer with
Gelo.
The ancestor of this Gelo, who first settled at Gela, was a native
of the isle of Telos, which lies off Triopium. When Gela was
colonised by Antiphemus and the Lindians of Rhodes, he likewise took
part in the expedition. In course of time his descendants became the
high-priests of the gods who dwell below - an office which they held
continually, from the time that Telines, one of Gelo's ancestors,
obtained it in the way which I will now mention. Certain citizens of
Gela, worsted in a sedition, had found a refuge at Mactorium, a
town situated on the heights above Gela. Telines reinstated these
men, without any human help, solely by means of the sacred rites of
these deities. From whom he received them, or how he himself acquired
them, I cannot say; but certain it is that relying on their power he
brought the exiles back. For this his reward was to be the office of
high-priest of those gods for himself and his seed for ever. It
surprises me especially that such a feat should have been performed by
Telines; for I have always looked upon acts of this nature as beyond
the abilities of common men, and only to be achieved by such as are of
a bold and manly spirit; whereas Telines is said by those who dwell
about Sicily to have been a soft-hearted and womanish person. He
however obtained this office in the manner above described.
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