Machelones

The Machelones (Georgian: მახელონები) (Machelônes, Machelonoi; Greek: Μαχελῶνες) were a Colchian tribe located to the far south of the Phasis (modern-day Rioni River, western Georgia). There are several references to them in Classical sources. This group may be the Machorones of Pliny (NH 6.4.11) who placed them between the Ophis (modern Of, Turkey) and Prytanis rivers. The Machelones were closely related ethnically to the neighboring Macrones (a tribe believed to be the ancestors of present-day Mingrelians, a subethnic group of the Georgian people), known since at least the 5th century BC.

Machelones

The Machelones (Georgian: მახელონები) (Machelônes, Machelonoi; Greek: Μαχελῶνες) were a Colchian tribe located to the far south of the Phasis (modern-day Rioni River, western Georgia). There are several references to them in Classical sources. This group may be the Machorones of Pliny (NH 6.4.11) who placed them between the Ophis (modern Of, Turkey) and Prytanis rivers. The Machelones were closely related ethnically to the neighboring Macrones (a tribe believed to be the ancestors of present-day Mingrelians, a subethnic group of the Georgian people), known since at least the 5th century BC.