Whats in a name : Ireland itself was known by a number of different names, including Banba, Fódla, Ériu, by the islanders, Iouerne, Scoti and Hiverne to the Greeks, and Hibernia to the Romans. Scotland takes its name from Scoti/Scotti (singular Scotus/Scottus), which is the Roman name for Celtic inhabitants of Hibernia (Ireland). In Latin Scoti means Irishman. Other Latin names for people from Ireland in Classic and Mediaeval sources include Attacotti and Gael. This last word Gael, derived from the Welsh gwyddel raiders, was eventually adopted by the Irish for themselves. However, as a term it is on a par with Viking, as it describes an activity (raiding, piracy) and its proponents, not their actual ethnic affiliations. The terms Irish and Ireland are derived from the goddess Ériu. A variety of historical ethnic groups have inhabited the island, including the Airgialla, Fir Ol nEchmacht, Delbhna, Fir Bolg, Érainn, Eóganachta, Mairtine, Conmaicne, Soghain, and Ulaid. In the cases of the Conmaicne, Delbhna, and perhaps Érainn, it can be demonstrated that the tribe took their name from their chief deity, or in the case of the Ciannachta, Eóganachta, and possibly the Soghain, a deified ancestor. This practise is paralleled by the Anglo-Saxon dynasties claims of descent from Woden, via his sons Wecta, Baeldaeg, Casere and Wihtlaeg. The Greek mythographer Euhemerus originated the concept of Euhemerism, which treats mythological accounts as a reflection of actual historical events shaped by retelling and traditional mores. In the 12th century, Icelandic bard and historian Snorri Sturluson proposed that the Norse gods were originally historical war leaders and kings, who later became cult figures, eventually set into society as gods. This view is in agreement with Irish historians such T. F. ORahilly and Francis John Byrne; the early chapters of their respective books, Early Irish history and mythology (reprinted 2004) and Irish Kings and High-Kings (3rd revised edition, 2001), deal in depth with the origins and status of many Irish ancestral deities. In Irish mythology, Ériu (Éire), also called Eri, daughter of Ernmas of the Tuatha Dé Danann, was the eponymous matron goddess of Ireland. The English name for Ireland comes from the name Ériu and the Germanic (Old Norse or Old English) word land. Ire/Eri - land Since Ériu is represented as goddess of Ireland, she is often interpreted as a modern day personification of Ireland, although since the name Ériu is the older Irish form of the word Ireland, her modern name is often modified to Éire or Erin to suit a modern form.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 12:51:26 +0000
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