There is a well written discussion of River Gods in the primary reference for Gela by G. Kenneth Jenkins. Jenkins notes that the river-god is scarcely found in Greek art and that the probable symbolism of the god on the coinage is not at all certain. He suggests a possible relationship between Gela and the ancient near east such as Assyria. The Assyrians used the symbolism of a human-headed bull with and without wings often. Jenkins asserts that the symbolism may have been a shaman of sorts to ward off evil.