Anyone reading the blog will note that not a huge amount on wild men but I am prone to make the claim that the wild man is to be strongly associated with historical memory, figure placed at its start.

On its horizon.

That idea should come with a strong disclaimer and health warning.

It is very much my own idea.

Hopefully I will now be able to alter that thought.

 

he remembers all that he heard on the history of Ireland

In memory rather than textual form and seems to stem from a direct confrontation with Siubne and the cause of his frenzy.

Just pieced things together without direct and specific references to memory and history from the British material; i.e the location of the wild man, at the horizon of British history. His association with prophecy and the future.

He laments his past, bewails his present and when lucid predicts the future. Its from this location that a medieval sense of history (as prophecy) unfolds.

I suspect.

From a battle site that serves as its historical horizon.

Note my bias, hope the idea alters and becomes something I have not thought of.

Its also why I am interested in nostalgia being selected as site to explore the start of modernity.

It looks familiar.

 

I started reading  ‘The settling of the manner of Tara’ as it has a reference to Uisneach.

My eyes stray across this

that the brain of forgetfulness was removed at the battle of Magh Rath, that is to say, he remembers all that he heard on the history of Ireland from that time down to the present day.

What is that?

It looks like some inverted version of the wisp of wandering (wild man thing). Spell which places a ‘wisp’ about the eyes.

Spatial disorientation.

Five hours later, my eyes are too screen burned to take in the text. Beast to find, Friday night has gone in a blur of edil (electronic dictionary of the Irish language) and frustration.

Bretha Étgid, Judgments on Offense

Read it tomorrow. I suspect that may be the weekend gone.

and the cause of its creation his brain of forgetting being cut out of Cenn Fáelad  after his wounding in the battle of Mag Rath. The three triumphs of that battle:…….. and Suibne the Wild (1) going into frenzy, and his brain of forgetting being struck out of Cenn Fáelad’s head.

 

Note

Irish Wild Man.

THE Ui Neill were once in conference in Magh Bregh in the time
of Diarmait son of Fergus Cerball, and this was what they
discussed. The demesne of Tara seemed excessive to them, that is,
the plain with seven views on every side, and they considered the
curtailing of that green, for they deemed it unprofitable to have so
much land without house or cultivation upon it, and of no service
to the hearth of Tara. For every three years they were obliged to
support the men of Ireland and to feed them for seven days and
seven nights. It was in this fashion then they used to proceed to the
feast of Diarmait son of Cerball. No king used to go without a
queen, or chieftain without a chieftainess, or warrior without . .
or fop without a harlot, or hospitaller without a consort, or youth
without a love, or maiden without a lover, or man without an art.

2. The kings and ollaves used to be placed around Diarmait
son of Cerball, that is, kings and ollaves together, warriors and
reavers together. The youths and maidens and the proud foolish
folk in the chambers around the doors; and his proper portion
was given to each one, that is, choice fruit and oxen and boars
and flitches for kings and ollaves, and for the free noble elders
of the men of Ireland likewise: stewards and stewardesses carving
and serving for them. Then red meat from spits of iron, and bragget
and new ale and milk water (?) for warriors and reavers: and
jesters and cup-bearers carving and serving for them. Heads-and-feet (?)
next and . . . of all [kinds of] cattle to charioteers and
jugglers and for the rabble and common people, with charioteers
and jugglers and doorkeepers carving and dispensing for them.
Veal then and lamb and pork and the seventh portion . . . outside
for young men and maidens, because their mirth used to entertain
them . . . and their nobility (?) used to be awaiting them (?).
Free mercenaries and female hirelings carving and dispensing for
them.

3. The nobles of Ireland were then summoned to the feast to
the house of Tara by Diarmait son of Cerball. And they said that
they would not partake of the feast of Tara until the settling of the
manor of Tara was determined, how it was before their day and how
it would be after them for all time, and they delivered that answer
to Diarmait. And Diarmait replied that it was not right to ask
him to partition the manor of Tara without taking counsel of
Flann Febla son of Scannlan son of Fingen, that is, the head
of Ireland and the successor of Patrick, or of Fiachra son of the
embroideress. Messengers were accordingly dispatched to Fiachra
son of Colman son of Eogan, and he was brought unto them to help
them, for few were their learned men, and many were their unlearned,
and numerous their contentions and their problems.

4. Then Fiachra arrived, and they asked the same thing of him,
namely to partition for them the manor of Tara. And he answered
them that he would not give a decision on that matter until they
should send for one wiser and older than himself. ‘Where is he?’
said they. ‘No hard matter that,’ said he, ‘even Cennfaelad
son of Ailill son of Muiredach son of Eogan son of Niall. It is from
his head,’ said he, ‘that the brain of forgetfulness was removed
at the battle of Magh Rath, that is to say, he remembers all that
he heard on the history of Ireland from that time down to the present
day. It is right that he should come to decide for you.’

Reference

R. Best, The Settling of the Manner of Tara

I find nostalgia uninhabitable at the moment.

Huge difficulty in understanding modern perspectives here which seem partly based on modern institutional division.

Familiar with history but not English lit. and in the case of media studies my reading here would be zero aside from the last two titles I have read (or started reading).

The historical argument I don’t have a problem with. Nostalgia is a late 17th century term, it develops within a particular cultural institution, medicine.

It has to be understood in these terms and in this context.

Not what its saying its how its saying it.

Its not familiar (1).

The context part is familiar. The what are you left with part not so.

What are you left with that does not fit into the context of the late 17th century?

The movement here is forward it has a future. I can begin to speculate what a media studies department may look like.

What wonders of modernity lie ahead.

I am very backward looking in this regard.

I don’t have the same sense of direction.

Note

I understand it’s Historical basis in its small C. (conservative) form. Which is not without its uses but you do not have to buy everything it is trying to sell.

Here I understand what it is trying to sell. A pure historical form. That’s not the case here.

No idea what it is selling. It has the same insistence as its historical manifestation. The intent does not appear to be to open up a debate.

Seeking closure.

 

 

Image

James Hutton painted by Henry Raeburn

Going Up The Hill

Roseanne Schot, Uisneach Midi a medon Erenn: a prehistoric ‘cult’ centre and ‘royal site’ in Co. Westmeath

Context. Birds eye view of one specific location with an analysis of the archeological and historical record.

If I am standing on another hill, where the only evidence is above the ground and what can be seen.

Its a model.

A point of comparison.

Map potential similarities and differences.

I live in the shadow of hills, in the valley, two prehistoric examples easily within view.

Considerable differences.

Need to walk into the center of time to find a site with the same continuity of settlement. Although this site is now a city.

I also don’t have its early medieval measurements to hand.

But I suspect the scale of the main building will not be the same.

Don’t know the measure. I am familiar with its poetry and song.

If I am wrong I will have to change my tune somewhat.

Issue.

Go up a hill far away from modern and medieval human settlement.

You can stand in a prehistoric village on a hill, move thorough its houses, with its walls standing almost four feet high in places.

Stand on the threshold and watch the sun rise and fall.

Million miles away from the city.

The landscape has developed and altered in a very different way.

A hill. Standing at the end of a path. It goes no further forward in terms of human occupation.

Geological and environmental sense of time here.

Vast scale to things.

Track the weight of the ice moving overhead and map its path as it shifts.

City I live in is no different in that regard. Built out from the scars and ridges of this movement.

 

I was thinking about the time I met up with some friends who work as archeologists for a pint.

20 minutes of gossip and report about what is going on the world of archeology.

Sitting waiting. When are they going to say it?

Oddly they don’t.

I find I cant help myself.

One of their number was invited to take give expert advice at a local archeological dig. Strange assemblage of stones buried in a back garden.

He announced to local news media of a new archeological discovery. A possible viking age ‘ritual site’ of type as yet unseen before.

Further forensic investigation revealed it was the remains of a 1960’s barbecue pit.

Couple of minutes of awkward explanation and laughter, back on topic.

They have a boundless energy and enthusiasm for their subject, which is pleasing and infectious.

Can I say this subject is moved by nostalgia?

I don’t think so.

Although a sense of what this is developing in her lifetime.

Can I say she has no future and no further relevance.

I don’t think so.

 

Vital aspect of joining up the dots. Even when the subject is silent and disconnected.

Property of nostalgia.

I feel.