> From: Dr G.R. Jones [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>
> Some names of saints in Welsh patrocinia and tradition point in this
> direction,
> and in most striking ways. There is a danger in applying the same model to
> all
> cases, however.
>
AGREED!
> One difficulty is not knowing how early deities' names (or
> names indicative of divinity) became adapted into regular name-forms
> lacking
> any 'religious' meaning.
>
Sometimes, too, it's difficult to be sure what truly were deity
names or what were courtesy titles or whether the names attributed to a
deity figure were originally *all* applied to that single figure or to
different figures with similar functions among different kin-groups. Is
Rhiannon or Morri/gan a name or a title to be used respectfully instead of
the "proper" name? Were all the names attributed to the Dagda actually used
for the same figure?
> It appears to be happening by the seventh century. At
> the same time, this is long before the process of Christianisation could
> be said
> to be anywhere near complete (if it ever was).
>
It's interesting that you should identify that era as significant.
I'm gradually concluding that the seventh-century represented some sort of
watershed when the insular Celtic communities were consolidating their
identity, an identity that was both similar to and different from Christians
on the continent. The insular Celtic Christians were certainly aware of
intellectual and other currents abroad, but they were also developing their
own replacements for the druidic schools of previous generations. Why the
seventh century? Was it simply a question of a certain amount of time having
passed? Or was there a precipitating factor that initiated the blossoming of
intellectual composition just as the devastation of plague early in the
seventh century precipitated the keeping of monastic annals (as Kathleen
Hughes once suggested)?.
> Indeed it may be that there was
> an awareness of the pre-Christian origins of some of these names as late
> as the
> twelfth century.
>
What in particular makes you think that?
> It's a problem (and a huge opportunity) which I touch on in 'Saints of
> Wales'
> (Shameless plug! - but since it's being sold by subscription, my publisher
> will
> probably call down blessings on anyone charitable enough to apply to him
> for
> details. So, braving the ire of our esteemed Listowners, the address is:
> Dr
> John Koch, Celtic Studies Publications, University of Wales Centre for
> Advanced
> Welsh and Celtic Studies, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth,
> Ceredigion
> SY23 3HH. John's e-Mail address is [log in to unmask]). I should add that I
> don't
> get a cut, more's the pity ;-)
>
That is more the pity! ;)
Recently, John Koch sent me the addresses that Celtic Studies
Publications uses for each side of the Atlantic:
On the eastern side:
Dr John T. Koch
>> Canolfan Uwchefrydiau Cymreig a Cheltaidd
>> Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru
>> Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3HH
>> Cymru
>>
>> ffôn: (-44) (0)1970 626717
>> ffacs: (-44) (0)1970 627066
>>
>>
>> Dr John T. Koch
>> Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies
>> National Library of Wales
>> Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3HH
>> Wales, Great Britain
>>
>> tel: (-44) (0)1970 626717
>> fax: (-44) (0)1970 627066
For those on the US side, contact Anne Lea at:
Celtic Studies Publications, Inc.
P.O. Box 639
Andover, MA 01810
tel. 978 458 6942
[log in to unmask]
Francine Nicholson
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