nigelswift wrote:
Skill, not strength
Letter from Debby Banham of Cambridge in the March-April 2007 edition of British Archaeology (page 20) -
"Your transcription of the Stonehenge Scala mundi text (Jan/Feb) says that the giants' circle was derecta (a variant of directa, ie set straight, or arranged) by Merlin at Stonehenge, whereas your excellent illustration shows that both manuscripts read deuecta (transported).
Thus your translation is only half right: the Latin says it was 'brought", but not "erected" (in any case, neither verb could mean both). So whereas the Brut version of the story clearly does have Merlin dismantling the monument in Ireland and reassembling it in England, the Scala mundi version could equally well mean that he moved it bodily, without all the bother of self-assembly. After all, the text does say he did it non vi sed arte; not by strength but by skill."
This topic is locked | Posted by Littlestone 23rd March 2007ce 12:44 |
Megalithic Paintings (nigelswift, Oct 07, 2006, 12:14)- Stonehenge - William Camden (nigelswift, Oct 07, 2006, 12:19)
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- Re: Megalithic Paintings (CianMcLiam, Oct 07, 2006, 13:42)
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- Re: West Kennet Long Barrow - Thelma Wilcox (moss, Oct 13, 2006, 19:43)
- Re: West Kennet Long Barrow - Thelma Wilcox (Littlestone, Oct 13, 2006, 19:48)
- Re: West Kennet Long Barrow - Thelma Wilcox (Rhiannon, Oct 13, 2006, 20:13)
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- Re: Megalithic Paintings (Mr Hamhead, Nov 13, 2006, 09:29)
- Re: Megalithic Paintings (moss, Nov 13, 2006, 10:02)
- Re: Megalithic Paintings (Jane, Nov 13, 2006, 14:06)
- Re: Megalithic Paintings (nigelswift, Nov 13, 2006, 14:35)
- Re: Megalithic Paintings (jacksprat, Nov 13, 2006, 14:46)
- Re: Megalithic Paintings (Littlestone, Nov 13, 2006, 14:50)
- Re: Megalithic Paintings (Mr Hamhead, Nov 13, 2006, 19:05)
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- Re: Earliest (detailed) sketch of Stonehenge (Littlestone, Nov 28, 2006, 11:01)
- Re: Earliest (detailed) sketch of Stonehenge (follow that cow, Nov 29, 2006, 22:11)
- Re: Earliest (detailed) sketch of Stonehenge (Littlestone, Dec 05, 2006, 11:30)
- Re: Earliest (detailed) sketch of Stonehenge (Littlestone, Dec 07, 2006, 12:02)
- Re: Earliest (detailed) sketch of Stonehenge (Littlestone, Mar 23, 2007, 12:44)
- Re: Earliest (detailed) sketch of Stonehenge (Littlestone, Aug 28, 2007, 16:38)
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