Albion

• an ancient name for Britain, in Ptol. Ἀλουίων, Plin. 4, 16, 30, § 102.

• a son of Neptune, Mel. 2, 6, 4.

or Ale'bion (Ἀλβίων or Ἀλεβίων), a son of Poseidon and brother of Dercynus or Bergion, together with whom he attacked Heracles, when he passed through their country (Liguria) with the oxen of Geryon. But they paid for their presumption with their lives. (Apollod. 2.5.10; Pomp. Mela, 2.5.39.) The Scholiast on Lycophron (648) calls the brother of Alebion, Ligys. The story is also alluded to in Hyginus (Poet. Astr. 2.6) and Dionysius. (1.41.) [L.S]

A´LBION [BRITANNIA.]

(Ἀλουΐων). Another name of Britannia (q.v.), and signifying “the white land,” from its white cliffs opposite the coast of Gaul. Albion or Albany (the Gaelic form) is now generally believed to have been the early Keltic name of the whole island. The etymology of the word is the same as that of Alps. See Britannia.