'Dark Age' poetry from Pictish hillfort in Aberdeenshire. скачать в хорошем качестве

'Dark Age' poetry from Pictish hillfort in Aberdeenshire.

Scots piper Jimi McRae recites sixth century 'Old Welsh' poetry at a massive Pictish hillfort atop the 'Mither Tap' on Bennachie in Aberdeenshire. Music is by guitarist Neil Warden. Bagpipes and jaw harp by McRae. The poem Gweith Gwen Ystrat (The Battle of the fair valley) is attributed to the legendary celtic bard Taliesin and is believed to have been composed sometime during the sixth century AD. The Picts are mentioned in the poem. They are referred to as Prydyn, the old Welsh word for Pictland. The poem tells the tale of a battle in the valley of Gwen (possibly the Eden valley in modern Cumbria) at which a sixth Century celtic King called Urien and his men ambush and vanquish a raiding war band. At first reading the raiders appear to be the Picts. However, the late great Welsh scholar Sir Ifor Williams believed a reference in the complete original text to 'pale faces' - a slang term for fair skinned Angles - perhaps indicated that the Picts had in fact been fighting alongside King Urien as 'Cymbrogi' (cultural and linguistic brothers) as allies against the Angles. Urien is recorded as being the King of Rheged, a kingdom many scholars believe was based around the Solway Firth. Ancient Welsh language sources also name Taliesin as Urien's personal bard. What exactly was going on we will probably never know for sure. However, visitors to the remains of a dark age hill fort near Gatehouse of Fleet on the Solway Firth can marvel at the most southern Pictish stone carvings ever found in the UK. The classic Pictish designs of a double disc and Z-Rod plus a 'Pictish beast' are carved near the summit of the former stronghold at Trusty's hill. Recent archaeological studies have shown that this fort was a 'high status', prestigious dwelling during the time of King Urien himself. Perhaps Trusty's hill was indeed a royal residence and the Picts left their distinctive carvings to symbolise a bond of friendship, overlordship or possibly even a marriage between Urien, his family and a Pictish warrior, Prince or Princess. Interesting to think about but we will probably never know for sure. Diolch!