| Tape Five Side One Yair Davidiy
Celtic
Traditions no.1
Shalom, Yair Davidiy speaking from
Jerusalem in Israel.The original inhabitants of Britain and Ireland are known as the Celts. After the Celts came the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Normans. Statistically the people of Britain have a lot of “Celtic” blood in them and the people of Ireland according to their ancestry are probably as much English as parts of England are. Even so culturally England is not considered to be a Celtic country whereas Ireland is considered to be a Celtic country. The Celts in Britain and Ireland did not call themselves “Celts”. They called themselves “Iberi” or “Hiberi” which means Hebrews. They identified themselves as Hebrews. Many of them were descended from the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. The Anglo-Saxons and Vikings who conquered the Celts were also descended from the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. The Celts were also important in Gaul which is now called France. Celtic influence was also important in Belgium, in Holland, and in Scandinavia even though linguistically theses nations adopted non-Celtic Germanic type languages. The Celts in the West came from the East in two major waves: The traditions of the Celts in the West help confirm their Israelite origins. The following account that I am going to give, of Celtic Mythology concerns the origins of the Celtic nations of Ireland and Britain. This account of Celtic Mythology is taken largely from the original works (or translations of them) of Mythology and from several secondary sources that are available in most large public libraries. The described traditions were written down mostly at a late date having previously existed through oral transmission. They were passed on by word of mouth. Even so, other factors tend to affirm the assumption that the various accounts given here have a factual basis. On major matters the legends agree with each other and they also correspond with archaeological findings and with written historical records. The written sources of Celtic Mythology come mainly from Ireland yet they concern not only the Irish but also the Scottish whose ancestors came from Ireland so did the Celtic settlers on the west coast of England and so did many of the Welsh Tribes and this in turn reflects on the English reflects since one third of the English either came from Wales or their immediate forefathers did. In addition what applies to the ancient Irish often also is relevant concerning the Celtic British. It is now claimed (possibly wrongly) that the Celts of Britain really formed the overwhelming mass of the "Anglo-Saxon" people. It is claimed that the Celtic masses who originally lived in England were conquered by the Anglo-Saxons and company and they were culturally Anglicized. It is now said that most of the Anglo-Saxons in England were actually Celts who had changed their language and customs and come to identify with the Anglo-Saxons who had conquered them. The Anglo-Saxons and the Scandinavian Vikings conquered and assimilated the British Celts. They themselves contained "Celtic" elements; they had intermixed with "Celts", and they had similar origins to the Celts. Most of the French and many of the Belgians, and Swiss are also of Celtic descent. Even the Dutch may once have been predominately Celtic. Sources from the British Isles (especially from Ireland) are almost the only Celtic ones we now have since elsewhere the Celts adopted the language, customs, and even the identity of those who conquered them. An examination of records based on Celtic tradition in the West indicates that the Celts from somewhere in the Middle East came westward and arrived in Ireland and the British Isles after sojourning in Spain. This impression conforms to archaeological and other studies AS WELL AS WITH THE BIBLE. The accounts given in Celtic Mythology parallel the historical conclusions reached by Brit-Am from other sources. THE IRISH STORY Excerpt from "The Irish Rebellion", p.2 written by William Temple ca.1646: "It may very well be conjectured (for infallible records I find none) that as the Eastern parts of Ireland, bordering upon England were first planted by the old Britains… the Northern parts of Ireland were first inhabited by the Scythians, from whom it was called Scytenland, or Scotland: So the Southern and more Western parts thereof were peopled from the Maritime parts of Spain, being the next continent, not by the now Spanish nation, who are strangely compounded of a different admixture of several people: But as I said, peradventure by the Gaules, who anciently inhabited all the Sea coasts of Spain, the Syrians, or some other of those more Eastern Nations, who intermixing with the natural Inhabitants of that Country, made a transmigration into Ireland, and so settled some colonies there. "The whole Kingdom of Ireland was divided into divers petty principalities..." "* * Ireland is often called Scotia major [Greater Scotland] among ancient writers"#. And so he goes on. We see from this that according to this source: Eastern Ireland was populated by people from Britain. Northern Ireland was populated by people from Scythia known as the Scots who also populated Scotland. The word “Scot” is derived from the word “Scyth”. Scotland means “Scythland”. The Southern and more Westerly parts of Ireland were populated by a people who came from Spain though Spain is no longer inhabited by them. These people had moved out of Spain were either the same people who occupied Gaul or they came from Syria or somewhere near Syria and in Spain had intermixed with the Gauls or other people and then moved to Ireland. Syria in Ancient Times was part of the Land of Israel and the writer is admitting that some portion of the Irish may have come from this region. These Traditional Classical Irish sources are the ones that have been most accepted by both historians and by the writers of Mythology. These sources are probably historically reliable to some degree. The Traditional Classical Irish sources say that: THE IMMIGRATING TRIBES TO IRELAND CAME IN WAVES. IRISH RECORDS SPEAK OF THE FOMORIANS, The NEMEDIANS, The DANA, AND The MILESIAN HIBERII. The Fomorians Among the first settlers of Ireland were the Fomorians. One version says that the Fomorians were Scandinavians but most accounts claim that they arrived from North Africa. There was always a connection between Ireland, North Africa, and the Middle East. This is reflected in the language of Ireland and of the Western Celts in general. The goddess of the Fomorians was Domnu and their leader was Balar5. The Fomorians were connected with the sea, sometimes they are described as pirates, and females dominated them. Later Irish literature speaks of the Fomorians in a negative way and associates them with the Irish landworking class7, i.e. in later Irish writings The Fomorians were connected with poor Irishmen who had no land of their own but worked on the land of others and were considered to belong to a lower social class. The Fir Bolg -Belgae The next group is the Nemedians. The Nemedians had arrived in Ireland either at the same time as the Fomorians arrived or shortly after. The name NEMED in Irish Gaelic means sanctified or separated. This name, “Nemed” in Gaelic has the same meaning as the Hebrew name "Peresh". Peresh was the name of the son of Gilead from the Tribe of Menasseh (1-Chronicles 7;16). The Nemedians were said to be descendants of Sru, Sera, and Isru8. These names and especially the name "ISRU" are forms of the name ISRAEL. The Nemedians split into three groups: 1.Britan who went to Britain; 2.Semion who fathered the Fir Bolg; and 3.Bethac who left Ireland and fathered the Tribe of Dana who later returned to Ireland. According to some versions Semion had never been in Ireland only his descendants were. The name Semion is the same as the Hebrew name Simeon. Simeon was one of the sons of Israel and a leading Israelite Tribe. Ptolemy recalled the Tribe of Semoni on the southeast coast of Britain. The Semoni in Britain adjoined the Iceni (Ikeni) whose name may be understood to be a Phoenician (or North Israelite) form of the appellation Jachin son of Simeon (Genesis 46;10). The Yacini (Ikeni) were descended from Yachin of Simeon. The Welsh in their own and in Irish Literature were referred to as Semoni. The Fir Bolg were descended from Semion. The Fir Bolg were also divided into three: 1. The first group of the Fir Bolg were THE FIR BOLG PROPER: "Fir" means men and Bolg derived from the Hebrew Bela(g)h son of Benjamin (Genesis 46;21). Bela(g)h was also a family head in the Tribe of Reuben (1-Chronicles 5;8). The Fir Bolg are identified by researchers with the Belgae9 who in the 100s b.c.e. sent colonists from their base in North Gaul into southern Britain where they were reported of by Ptolemy. Ptolemy also records Belgae in Ireland. The Belgae gave their name to Belgium. Aspects of the culture of the Belgae possessed what are considered Phoenician traits. The Phoenicians and the Northern Israelites in cultural and archaeological terms were almost the same. Within the Land of Israel the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half Menasseh at an early stage had formerly expanded their territories up to and perhaps even beyond the Euphrates River. Sections of other Israelite tribes, including Benjamin, were also to be found in the Israelite areas between the Jordan River and the Euphrates Rivers. Ptolemy in his map of northern Syria (which he calls "Arabia") records the existence of Israelite clan and territorial names in areas adjoining the Euphrates. Amongst these names are BALAGEA and BELGINAEA. These names RELATE TO THE BELGAE who were DESCENDANTS OF BELA(g)H FROM BENJAMIN (GENESIS 46;21) and/or of BELA(g)H of REUBEN OF ISRAEL (1-Chronicles 5;8).. 2. The second group of the Fir Bolg were the GALIOIN: The Galioin were another section of the Fir Bolg (Men of Bolg). Their name, Galioin, is considered to be the same in meaning as that of the Gaels of Ireland and Scotland and the Galli (Gauls) of Gaul. These names in Hebrew suggest both "exile" ("Goli", "Gali") and the Galilee, which is a region in the Northern part of Israel. 3. The third group of the Fir Bolg (Men of Bolg) were THE FIR DOMNU or “Men of Domnu: The people of Domnu are somehow connected with the Fomorians who are sometimes considered the "gods of Domnu". Domnu was the Fomorian goddess. According to Ptolemy, the Dumnonii were found in Devon, in Cornwall, and in Scotland. Those areas ethnic names connected with the Tribe of DAN have been found. THE TRIBE OF DANA (TUATHA DE DANAAN) THE TRIBE OF DANA were descendants of Dana. "Dana" is another way of pronouncing the Hebrew word DAN. It has been claimed that in Ancient Ireland Dana was a goddess who gave her name to a certain people. It was not unknown for ancient peoples to personify themselves with the figure of a goddess. Even now Britain is sometimes represented by a feminine form under name “Brittania”. “Britannia” is a female symbol representing Britain. The Tribe of DAN was a Tribe of Israel. The Tribe of Dan once had widely spread posts throughout the Middle East. The Israelite Tribe of Dan had conquered Cyprus that was known as Ydnana or “Isle of Dananu”. The Tribe of Dan probably also conquered the Isle of Crete and other Greek islands. The Tribe of Dan had had bases in Cilicia. Cilicia is in northwest Syria and southeast Turkey. The Tribe of Dan had had a center in North Galilee, and another center close to the port of Jafo in the land of Israel. In the present-day State of Israel the region of Tel Aviv, Yaffo, and the neighboring area is known as the Region of Dan. An offshoot from the tribe of Dan at an early stage participated in that conquest of Greece. This conquest gave rise to Mycenean civilization. According to Irish accounts the Tribe of Dana came from Greece. The Tribe of Dana arrived in Ireland from Greece via islands to the north of Ireland. This assumedly means Scandinavia. One of the islands that the tribe of Dana came from was called ASSAL. “Assal” is also the appellation of a Middle Eastern principality in the region of Gozan on the Khabur River in Northern Syria. Israelites had been exiled to this region by the Assyrians. Another Irish version says that the Dana came from the city of Dan at the foot of mount Libanus (Lebanon) in what was once the area of northern Israel. Even the account which says that the Dana came from or via Greece says that they had fought repeatedly with the Phillistines. The Philistines had adjoined the territory of Dan in the southeast Israel. The Tribe of Dan in Israel had been constantly fighting with the Philistine people. This may be seen in the Biblical story of the hero Samson (Judges chs. 13-16). Samson was a prototype for the Greek idol Hercules. The legend of Hercules in Greek legend was based on the story of Samson. Samson came from the tribe of Dan. In the Land of Israel the original portion of Dan (in the south) had adjoined the Philistines. The Philistines at one stage had conquered the portion of Dan in the south and ruled over it. It now appears that after the Exile by the Assyrians some ISRAELITES from the Tribe of Dan had sojourned in Greece before moving onwards. An Irish Historian, Thomas Moore, stated that the Tuatha de Danaan (i.e. Tribe of Dana), "after sojourning for some time in Greece... proceeded from thence to Denmark and Norway"21. Geoffrey Keating (ca.1570-1646) understood from traditional Irish sources that, <<the Danaans were a people of great learning and wealth; they left Greece after a battle with the Assyrians, and went to Ireland; and also to Danmark, and called it “DAN-mares”, “Dan's country”>>. In Irish tradition THE TRIBE OF DANA were described as fair in complexion, wise, culturally advanced, and scientifically proficient. This description and the activities ascribed to the Dana fits the Civilization of Scandinavia during the so-called “Bronze Age”. This civilization was very advanced and it had contacts with Egypt, with Cyprus, with Greece, and with the Middle East in general. The Irish said that upon reaching Ireland the Tribe of Dana fought against both the Fomorians and the Men of Bolg. The Bolg were subjected and granted autonomy in the west, in Connaught. The Dana defeated the Fomorians though later the ruling class of the Dana intermarried with the Fomorian ruling class. Raymond F. McNair ("America And Britain In Prophecy", 1996, U.S.A.) lists places containing the name Dan in Scotland such as Dundee, Dunraven, Aberdeen, Duncansby Head, and the Don River and in Ireland: Dun Laoghaire, Dunkellin River, Dundalk, Dans-Laugh, Dan-Sower, Dungarven, Dundrum, Dunglow, Dingle Bay, Donegal Bay, and Dunmore Head. McNair then makes the following observation that is worth quoting: ~It is certainly no coincidence that the Irish Gaelic word Dun or Dunn means "Judge," just as Dan does in Hebrew! ~. It is also worth mentioning that many of the policemen, lawyers, and judges in the U.S.A. today are of Irish descent. This too connects them with Dan whose name means judge. THE WELSH VERSION The Tribe of Dan is also recalled in the Tradition of Wales where Dan is called Don. In Biblical Hebrew the name “Dan” could also in some dialects be pronounced as “Don”. In Welsh sources the People of DON parallel the Tribe of Dana in Irish legend. The Welsh spoke of the goddess Don and her male-partner Bile the god of the dead. Britain was nicknamed "The Honey Isle of Bile". BILE is the equivalent of “Bel” meaning the Canaanite Baal whom the Romans in Syria identified with Saturn. The Romans considered Britain to be the domain of Saturn. The Romans also equated Saturn with Israel. Thus in their own way the Romans linked Celtic Britain to Israel. The Welsh collection of legends (called Mabinogion) speaks of Beli son of Manogan king of Britain. “Beli” is a derivation of Belinus a Druid god. Beli is named (in the Mabinogion) as the ancestor of Welsh Kings. Beli was considered (in Welsh tradition) to have been a member of the House of David King of Israel. The Tudor monarchs of Britain had Royal Welsh origins: "At any rate, there is reason to believe that the Tudors were descended from the old British kings who ruled at the time of the Anglo-Saxon invasions" (MASTER, Sir HENRY, & CARTER, F.H. "The Tudors: Knowing British History 4", London, 1975.). The story of Bile and Beli in Welsh tradition recalls Greek legends about Belus and Danaus whose name was also a form of Dan The Greeks said that Belus (i.e. Baal) the son of Poseidon (Neptune) was the father of Danaus and that Danaus had escaped from Egypt with other people the bulk of whom were led by Moses who settled in Judea. This identifies the Greek hero Danaus with the Israelite forefather Dan. The Greek combination of Belus and Danaus also parallels the Welsh pairing of Don and Bile i.e. Bile is another form of Belus, which a form of Baal, the pagan god of Canaan that the Ancient Israelite pagans had worshipped. Poseidon was the Greek god of the sea. Poseidon in Greek legend was the father of Danaus. The name Poseidon is capable of being understood to mean "Son(s) of Dan". The Greeks said that Danaus and Doros were sons of Poseidon. They said that Doros son of Poseidon founded the important city port of Dor on the coast of Israel in the territory of Menasseh. A Phoenician inscription also reported the presence of Israelite DAN in the area of Dor. The Romans called the Greek god Poseidon “Neptune”. Neptune is another name for Poseidon. The name Neptune was believed by the famous Israeli scholar Nahum Slouschz to be derived from the name of the Israelite Tribe Nephtali. Slouschz was an expert on the Phoenicians and on seafaring in Ancient Times. Slouschz believed the name Neptune to be derived from Nephtali. Nephtali and Dan were Tribes of Israel descended from Nephtali and Dan the sons of Jacob. Nephtali and Dan were full brothers. They were the only sons of Bilhah who was the maidservant of Rachel and the concubine of Israel. The Tribes of Nephtali and Dan were often closely associated with each other. Neptune (according to the Romans) fathered Albion who founded a kingdom in Britain. Albion is a form of the name Lebanon in which country Nephtali and Dan held territory. The above name-associations indicate pathways linking Israelite Tribal ancestors to British Peoples to figures in ancient mythology. These suggestions should be considered in the light of additional evidence. It must be remembered that the northern Israelites prior to their exile were already pagans. They would have assimilated whatever Biblical traditions they had retained to concepts that were understandable in pagan terms. The pagans had their own terminology. According to the description of Welsh, Greek, and Roman tradition we have just given and the interconnections between these traditions we see that the Israelite Tribes of Dan and Naphtali were identified by the pagans with Poseidon (also known as Neptune) the god of the sea and that this god fathered peoples who settled in Britain. In effect these traditions in their own way link Israelite Tribes with the Isles of Britain. Thomas F. O'Rahilly wrote a book ("Early Irish History And Mythology", Dublin, 1971, Eire) in which he compared traditional Irish accounts of peoples who invaded Ireland with the results of research in his own time. He came to the conclusion that the invaders of Ireland could be divided into four: 1. The Picts or Cruthen also known as the "Priteni". The name "Priteni" probably derives from the word "Briton". The Picts settled in both North Ireland and in Scotland. Scottish tradition said that the Picts came from Scythia, they went to Ireland, and from Ireland moved to Scotland as did other peoples. Tape Index Home |