Dindsenchas
Dindsenchas [ 'dʴindhenxas ], also Dinnshenchas , refers to a collection of place names explanations of Ireland . The meaning is translated as "history of the place". There are different versions from the 12th and 13th centuries, with some of the Dindsenchas already dating from the 9th century and even older, but manuscripts from the 16th century have survived.
A total of three different versions are handed down in the manuscripts. The oldest (A) is in Lebor Laignech (“The Book of Leinster”) with over 100 mostly anonymous poems and some prose texts. The second (B), on the other hand, consists mostly of prose texts with short epithets as a conclusion. Together, these two versions are the basis for the third (C), which is similar to the second version. The order of the chapters results in a fictional journey from Temair , the mythical seat of the High Kings of Ireland, clockwise through all the provinces ( Meath , Leinster , Munster , Connacht and Ulster ). The explanations of place names are partly traditional local sagas, partly medieval speculations.
The name Dindsenchas is made up of the Irish words dind ("hill, hill") and senchas ("traditional knowledge"). However, not only elevations, but all historically or mythologically relevant places are recorded and explained.
For the idea of gaining dominion over the country through knowledge of its history, see also Acallam na Senórach .
literature
- Helmut Birkhan : Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. Publishing house of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 1997, ISBN 3-7001-2609-3 .
- Bernhard Maier : Lexicon of Celtic Religion and Culture (= Kröner's pocket edition . Volume 466). Kröner, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-520-46601-5 .
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Celts. Attempt at a complete representation of their culture. P. 470 f.