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From Armenia to Devonshire
Filed under: Geography, History, Literature -- 1 Comment
March 8, 2014
Striking similarities between prehistoric monuments in Devon England,
and Armenia
I came across an interesting book today, titled "Historical views of
Devonshire" by Richard Polwhele (1793).
In his book Polwhele argues that the first inhabitants of Britain came
from Armenia. And specifically settled in the South Britain's Devon or
Devonshire as it's also called. Let's examine some of the arguments
mentioned in the book.
Polwhele introduces his theory by saying: "That the original
inhabitants of Danmonium were of eastern origin, and, in particular,
were Armeni
>From Armenia to Devonshire
ans, is a position which may, doubtless, be supported by some show of
authority." Danmonium being the Latin name for Davon. He goes on to
explain:
"Let us consider the testimony of one of our chronicles, which speaks
to the point of the Armenian emigration. The Saxon Chronicle
positively asserts, that "the original inhabitants of Britain came
from Armenia, and that they seated themselves in the south-west part
of the island:"
The Saxon Chronicle is said to have been written by a monk, at
Lincoln: And similar chronicles were kept by the most learned monks in
several monasteries throughout the kingdom. The monk of Lincoln seems
to have been well informed: And there is no more reason to dispute the
authority of the passage before us, than that of any other part of the
book. For it is not a conjecture: It is not hazarded as an opinion: It
is a positive assertion and relation of an event, as a thing generally
known and understood to be true."
Polwhele also discusses similarities between early Armenian and Briton
living habits including caverns which are found in abundance in Devon.
He says:
"That these caverns were places of temporary residence in the time of
war, wither the Danmonii retired, for the security of their persons,
their domestic furniture, and their warlike stores, I should judge not
only from the disposition of the Aborigines so congenial with the
oriental turn of mind, but from the resemblance, also of our Danmonian
excavations to those in Scotland and Ireland, which are allowed to be
military retreats. But, whatever was their use, they were very similar
to the caves of the eastern nations, and especially of Armenia."
"That the Asiatics, from whose country the Danmonians are supposed to
have emigrated, " made them the dens which are in the mountains, and
caves, and strongholds," is evident, both from sacred and profane
history. There is a remarkable passage in Xenophon, describing the
caves of the Armenians. Xenophon informs us, "that the houses of the
Armenians were under-ground -- that the mouth or entrance to these
subterraneous habitations was like that of a well, but that
underneath, they werewide and spreading -- that there were ways for the
cattle to enter, but that the men went down by stairs." In Armenia, at
this day, the people dwell in caverns. "In a narrow valley (says
Leonhaut Rauwolf ) lying at the bottom of an ascent, we found a great
stable, wherein we went. This was quite cut into the hill : And so was
that wherein we lodged the night before. So that you could see nothing
of it, but only the entrance. For they are commonly so in these hilly
countries, under-ground, that the caravans may safely rest there, and
defend themselves from the cold in the winter. This stable,
twenty-five paces long, and twenty broad, was cut out of a rock."
These descriptions of the Armenian caves agree, in several points,
with that of the cave near Plymouth, as well as the Cornish caverns.
Xenophon's cave is fub-terraneous : So is that near Plymouth : The
apertures of both are narrow : And both caverns are, afterwards,
sufficiently capacious."
He goes on to describe place names: "I observe that the caves in Devon
(so like the under-ground habitations of Armenia) are mostly in the
Southams, at no great distance from the river Arme, or the town of
Armenton, on the banks of the Arme, where the emigrators from Armenia
are supposed to have first settled."
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reads: "The first inhabitants were the Britons,
who came from Armenia, and first peopled Britain southward."
The book further describes many common characteristics of Britons and
Armenians. From the warlike spirit, clothing, social structures, names
and living habits. Vallancy, on the authority of Sir George Yonge adds
that "in S.W. of Dovenshire, there is still a river, called Armine ;
and the town and hundred are called Armine-ton to this day."
Polwhele finally concludes as follows:
"That the settlers in this island, were not a colony from Gaul, has
been proved, on every view of the subject. And the vulgar theory of
the original European plantations, would be abandoned, I think, on all
hands, after a candid and liberal investigation of it. To such an
investigation I should be happy to excite the learned. From the
dubiousness of the common theory, I had a right to form a new
hypothesis. And I have imagined a rapid emigration to these islands,
for the most part by sea, from Armenia... I have not grounded my
supposition on the sole authority of the Saxon Chronicle. The
evidence of Caesar himself, is strong in my favor : And the voice of
the Greek historians and geographers is still more decisive. But the
character of the orientals, so strikingly contrasted with that of the
Europeans, and yet according with that of the aboriginal Danmonii,
seems almost to determine the controversy. The orientals, at the time
of their first emigration into different countries, were imprest with
various traits of character ; such as we have discovered in their
modes of settlement, their civil government, their religion, their
commercial communications, their language and learning, their genius
and their customs. The wandering spirit and patriarchal policy of
Armenia."
http://peopleofar.wordpress.com/2014/03/08/from-armenia-to-devonshire/
Filed under: Geography, History, Literature -- 1 Comment
March 8, 2014
Striking similarities between prehistoric monuments in Devon England,
and Armenia
I came across an interesting book today, titled "Historical views of
Devonshire" by Richard Polwhele (1793).
In his book Polwhele argues that the first inhabitants of Britain came
from Armenia. And specifically settled in the South Britain's Devon or
Devonshire as it's also called. Let's examine some of the arguments
mentioned in the book.
Polwhele introduces his theory by saying: "That the original
inhabitants of Danmonium were of eastern origin, and, in particular,
were Armeni
>From Armenia to Devonshire
ans, is a position which may, doubtless, be supported by some show of
authority." Danmonium being the Latin name for Davon. He goes on to
explain:
"Let us consider the testimony of one of our chronicles, which speaks
to the point of the Armenian emigration. The Saxon Chronicle
positively asserts, that "the original inhabitants of Britain came
from Armenia, and that they seated themselves in the south-west part
of the island:"
The Saxon Chronicle is said to have been written by a monk, at
Lincoln: And similar chronicles were kept by the most learned monks in
several monasteries throughout the kingdom. The monk of Lincoln seems
to have been well informed: And there is no more reason to dispute the
authority of the passage before us, than that of any other part of the
book. For it is not a conjecture: It is not hazarded as an opinion: It
is a positive assertion and relation of an event, as a thing generally
known and understood to be true."
Polwhele also discusses similarities between early Armenian and Briton
living habits including caverns which are found in abundance in Devon.
He says:
"That these caverns were places of temporary residence in the time of
war, wither the Danmonii retired, for the security of their persons,
their domestic furniture, and their warlike stores, I should judge not
only from the disposition of the Aborigines so congenial with the
oriental turn of mind, but from the resemblance, also of our Danmonian
excavations to those in Scotland and Ireland, which are allowed to be
military retreats. But, whatever was their use, they were very similar
to the caves of the eastern nations, and especially of Armenia."
"That the Asiatics, from whose country the Danmonians are supposed to
have emigrated, " made them the dens which are in the mountains, and
caves, and strongholds," is evident, both from sacred and profane
history. There is a remarkable passage in Xenophon, describing the
caves of the Armenians. Xenophon informs us, "that the houses of the
Armenians were under-ground -- that the mouth or entrance to these
subterraneous habitations was like that of a well, but that
underneath, they werewide and spreading -- that there were ways for the
cattle to enter, but that the men went down by stairs." In Armenia, at
this day, the people dwell in caverns. "In a narrow valley (says
Leonhaut Rauwolf ) lying at the bottom of an ascent, we found a great
stable, wherein we went. This was quite cut into the hill : And so was
that wherein we lodged the night before. So that you could see nothing
of it, but only the entrance. For they are commonly so in these hilly
countries, under-ground, that the caravans may safely rest there, and
defend themselves from the cold in the winter. This stable,
twenty-five paces long, and twenty broad, was cut out of a rock."
These descriptions of the Armenian caves agree, in several points,
with that of the cave near Plymouth, as well as the Cornish caverns.
Xenophon's cave is fub-terraneous : So is that near Plymouth : The
apertures of both are narrow : And both caverns are, afterwards,
sufficiently capacious."
He goes on to describe place names: "I observe that the caves in Devon
(so like the under-ground habitations of Armenia) are mostly in the
Southams, at no great distance from the river Arme, or the town of
Armenton, on the banks of the Arme, where the emigrators from Armenia
are supposed to have first settled."
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reads: "The first inhabitants were the Britons,
who came from Armenia, and first peopled Britain southward."
The book further describes many common characteristics of Britons and
Armenians. From the warlike spirit, clothing, social structures, names
and living habits. Vallancy, on the authority of Sir George Yonge adds
that "in S.W. of Dovenshire, there is still a river, called Armine ;
and the town and hundred are called Armine-ton to this day."
Polwhele finally concludes as follows:
"That the settlers in this island, were not a colony from Gaul, has
been proved, on every view of the subject. And the vulgar theory of
the original European plantations, would be abandoned, I think, on all
hands, after a candid and liberal investigation of it. To such an
investigation I should be happy to excite the learned. From the
dubiousness of the common theory, I had a right to form a new
hypothesis. And I have imagined a rapid emigration to these islands,
for the most part by sea, from Armenia... I have not grounded my
supposition on the sole authority of the Saxon Chronicle. The
evidence of Caesar himself, is strong in my favor : And the voice of
the Greek historians and geographers is still more decisive. But the
character of the orientals, so strikingly contrasted with that of the
Europeans, and yet according with that of the aboriginal Danmonii,
seems almost to determine the controversy. The orientals, at the time
of their first emigration into different countries, were imprest with
various traits of character ; such as we have discovered in their
modes of settlement, their civil government, their religion, their
commercial communications, their language and learning, their genius
and their customs. The wandering spirit and patriarchal policy of
Armenia."
http://peopleofar.wordpress.com/2014/03/08/from-armenia-to-devonshire/