GELA (anc. geog.), a city of great extent on the south of Sicily, taking its name from the river Gelas, which washes it. It was built by colonists from Rhodes and Crete, 45 years after the building of Syracuse, or in the third year of the 22d Olympiad, 690 before Christ; originally called Lindus, from the colonists of Lindus, a city of Rhodes, who settled there first. Now Terranova, and the river called Fiume di Terranova. The people were called Geloi, Gelenesi, and Gelani. The city Gela, after having stood 408 years, was destroyed by Phintias, tyrant of Agrigentum; and the inhabitants were removed to a new city, called Phintias after his name.