Bēlus, i, m., = Βῆλος; Heb. .
I An Asiatic king of a primitive age , builder of Babylon and founder of the Babylonian kingdom , Verg. A. 1, 621; 1, 729 sq.: priscus, Ov. M. 4, 213 (like Βῆλος ὁ ἀρχαῖος, Aelian. V. H. 13, 3).—
II An Indian deity , compared with Hercules of the Greeks, Cic. N. D. 3, 16, 42; cf. Robinson, Dict., under .—
III A king of Egypt , father of Danaus and Aegyptus. —
IV Derivv.
A Bēlīdes , ae (for the length of the i , cf. Prisc. p. 584 P.), m., = Βηλίδης, a male descendant of Belus : Belidae fratres, i. e. Danaus and Aegyptus , Stat. Th. 6, 291: surge, age, Belide, de tot modo fratribus unus, i. e. Lynceus , son of Aegyptus , Ov. H. 14, 73: Palamedes, Verg. A. 2, 82 (septimo gradu a Belo originem ducens, Serv.).—
B Bēlis , ĭdis, f., and usu. in plur., Bēlĭdĕs , um, the granddaughters of Belus , the Belides , = Danaides (v. Danaus), Ov. Tr. 3, 1, 62; id. A. A. 1, 74; id. M. 4, 463; 10, 44.—
C Bēlĭăs , ădis, f., = Belis, Sen. Herc. Oet. 961.—
V Beli oculus, a precious stone , cat’s-eye , a species of onyx , Plin. 37, 10, 55, § 149.—
VI A river of Galilee , on the borders of Phoenicia , now Nahr Naaman , Plin. 5, 19, 17, § 75; Tac. H. 5, 7.