Orkney forum 49 room
Image by wideford
Orkney

Mess/Mass/Maes/May

close
more_vert

The general opinion among the scholars I've spoken to about this is that they have a problem with "maes-" being of anything other than Norse origin, due to the overwhelming influence of Old Norse on other place names in Orkney. Personally, I don't think the "it must be Norse because everything else is" argument holds much water without further argument or evidence - a Norse origin for the "maes-" element would help, for example. The date when "Maeshowe" came to replace "Orkahaugr" would have considerable relevance, I feel.

Anyway, would you like me to email you the correspondence I've had with learned Doctors of Celtic history about this?

You could always post it on to the Maeshowe site so that we can all have a read.

Could there be an influence of 'double entendre', as in the Norse sounding as Maiden Hill/Treasure Hill but meaning Low Hill in Gaelic. We have already seen how much our Viking friends enjoy ribaldry from their graffiti.

Amyway, its only a suggestion, but I would like to read any research you may have.

Thanks,

FTC