Selloi

The Selloi (Greek: Σελλοί) were an ancient Greek tribe^[1] inhabiting Epirus in ancient Greece, in a region between Dodona—site of the oldest reported oracle—and the Achelous river; Aristotle named the area ancient Hellas. A group who were formerly called Graecians and later Hellenes lived there as well.^[2] According to Homer, they were priests of the Dodonian Zeus.^[3] Classicist and linguist Steve Reece has traced the Homeric name Selloi Σελλοί back to a historical tribe named Helloi Ἑλλοί (related to Hellas, Hellenes, etc). During the oral period of epic transmission one of Homer's bardic predecessors misheard a formulaic expression in which the name was embedded and metanalyzed "Helloi" as "Selloi."^[4]

See also

• Greeks (names)
• Names of the Greeks