Re: Celtic Origins

On Mon, 30 Jan 2006 12:11:12 GMT, "Alan Crozier"
<name1.name2@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>"JMB" <johnmbyrne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>news:43ddfd55$0$24960$ba620d2c@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> "Seppo Renfors" <Renfors@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:43DDB7D8.43FD2DCC@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >
>> >
>> > Eric Stevens wrote:
>> >>
>> >
>> > [..]
>> >>
>> >> If the Tuatha De Danaan existed at all they were real
>people. I too
>> >> have seen them linked with the Baltic region and possibly
>as far south
>> >> as the Black Sea. The problem is that they date from a
>period when
>> >> there was little, if any, writing to establish hard facts.
>What little
>> >> we know has come down by word of mouth to the scribes of
>later eras.
>> >>
>> > http://www.bartleby.com/61/88/T0398850.html
>> >
>> > This indicates they were tribes that were descendants from
>the Gods.
>> > This kind of legend is commonplace in particular among the
>Greeks and
>> > the leaders who all claim a connection to a god - lest they
>be called
>> > "tyrants".
>> >
>>
>> LOL. That's the etymology. Most of the people here could
>have told you
>> what it means. They were a tribe of gods, and the main one
>was Danu. Much
>> like the Olympians and Zeus. (although Danu doesn't play an
>active part in
>> things IIRC)
>
>Note that the dictionary entry found by Seppo defines them as
>"The pre-Christian gods of Ireland", supporting what John has
>been saying all along: that this is myth, not necessarily a
>record of prehistoric tribal movements.

Not necessarily not a record either.
>
>As for amateur exercises in etymology, which have abounded
>through history, the fact that the name begins with a very
>common combination, D + vowel + N, has allowed people to imagine
>all kinds of connections, with the Greek Danaans, with river
>names like the Danube and the Don, with the biblical tribe of
>Dan, and so on. It's all loose speculation.

Speculation it may be but my original point was that there scholars
who are prepared to entertain such speculations.



Eric Stevens

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Celtic Origins
    ... They were a tribe of gods, ... was Danu. ... Alan Crozier ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: Need help with cite
    ... the origins of primitive trade? ... Tribe A simply left goods in a desgnated spot; ... that the gods had provided. ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: Need help with cite
    ... the origins of primitive trade? ... Tribe A simply left goods in a desgnated spot; ... that the gods had provided. ...
    (sci.archaeology)
  • Re: UND goes after NCAA
    ... I'm sure as hell not fond of Chief Wahoo and such, ... in the ncaa and the ncaa makes such rules. ... And I've never bought this idea that "well if a certain tribe supports ... "It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are 20 gods, ...
    (rec.sport.football.college)