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Maeshowe
Re: Pretanike-Britain, Breton, Prythain or Picti?
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Help with this please. It's commonly agreed that all the variations of the name Britain have derived from the writings of Pytheus of Massalia who, in 325BC, described the inhabitants of these islands as the Pretanike. Most references say that this is the name that the natives called themselves, however, is this not the ancient greek for painted ones.

I believe that when Pytheus asked,"who lives in those islands?", he was answered,
"the painted ones", this he then translated into greek as 'Pretanike'.

The welsh for Britain is Prythain which is commonly held to be the same root as Pretanike, however I believe that this is borrowed from the original Greek word.

Now, whether the 'painted ones' referred to the people or the stones is a different thread entirely.

If I'm talking complete bollocks please let me know!


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follow that cow
Posted by follow that cow
30th April 2005ce
16:28

In reply to:

Entymology of Maeshowe - discussed with experts (Lianachan)

3 replies:

Re: Pretanike-Britain, Breton, Prythain or Picti? (Littlestone)
Re: Pretanike-Britain, Breton, Prythain or Picti? (BigSweetie)
Re: Pretanike-Britain, Breton, Prythain or Picti? (PeterH)

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