Giants — The Mystery and the Myth on Civilisation

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Littlestone L
Littlestone May 25, 2005 08:51:27
Replying to PeterH

>I feel sure though that most of the "giant races" myths come from later people, with diminished technical abilities, attempting to explain the existence of megalithic and other massive constructions.<

Yes, I agree. The Anglo-Saxons usually referred to Roman ruins 'as the work of the Giants' and I'm sure you're familiar with the following from <b>The Ruin</b> where an Anglo-Saxon poet looks upon the Roman ruins at (probably) Bath...

Well-wrought this wall: Wierds broke it.
The stronghold burst...

Snapped rooftrees, towers fallen,
the work of the Giants, the stonesmiths...*

* The Earliest English Poems. ISBN 0-14-044594-3. pp 1-3.

W Wiggy
Wiggy May 25, 2005 10:02:28
Replying to Littlestone

I'm familiar with that Anglo saxon poem, but I'm not sure if we can take it literally. I'm sure the English would have been aware of the achievements of the Roman Empire, would have traded from its margins in Germany, and many would have fought as mercenaries in its armies. What do you reckon?