On Gwydion, a Holy City was deliberately built under the Steeps of Kolumkill which protect it from occasional but lethal volcanic ash. Thinking that "Kolumkill" sounds not Gwydiona but Irish, we google and are reminded that "Colmcille" is an alternative name of St. Columba who founded the still important Iona Abbey. Thus, names have taken us, appropriately, from a Holy City to Kolumkill to Colmcille/Columba to an Abbey. There may be some vague association in the minds of Poul Anderson's readers even if they do not pursue the matter.
15 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And this got me wondering if Gwydion was originally colonized by "Celtic Revivalist" types. Maybe even by SCA chapters (Anderson was a founding member of the SCA, recall).
Ad astra! Sean
The Gwydona are, even more than most human beings, massively self-deceptive. Talk about denial!
Denial, yes. Raven enquires. Elfavy evades. They pretend to themselves that their descent into madness is an ascent to transcendence.
Sean,
"Gwydion" sounds Welsh.
Paul.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling and Paul!
Mr. Stirling: All too understandably so! Facing up to the problem of their periodical insanity would be terrifying.
Paul: It does look like Welsh to me, the names we see on Gwydion. It reminded me just now of Katherine Kurt'z Deryni fantasy stories, set in a very Welsh looking setting.
Ad astra! Sean
"Gwydion" IS Welsh. Major character in the Mabinogion, and his/her tales are quite ... relevant to the situation Anderson put his characters into. Not quite filing off the serial numbers, but still ...
I was remiss in not googling Gwydion.
Paul - No harm, no foul. ;)
There's a lot of mythology inherent in human history. Some of it more entertaining than others, of course.
Kaor, Dave!
Iow, "mythological" beliefs of all kinds, such as Marxism or the Aztec belief in the necessity of human sacrifices to their gods, often motivates people to act in ways others would think irrational. Rationalizing, not rational.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Marxism is an economic analysis of history and society, not a myth, unless, by "myth," you mean merely a theory that you disagree with.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
No, Marxism is a mythology, even if a secularized mythology. Since we are not going to agree about that, I'll leave it there.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
And with a dogmatic statement like that discussion is impossible!
The Aztecs sacrificed large numbers of people to their gods. A Marxist academic analyses the economic consequences of the slave trade and of the Industrial Revolution. To disagree with his analysis is one thing. To equate his theory with what the Aztecs did is quite another!
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
We cannot agree about Marxism. Even merely as economics it has been discredited by critics like Eugen von Bohm-Bawerk (I don't know how to place the umlaut above the "Bohm") and Ludwig von Mises.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I accept that Marxism has been discredited as economics in the opinions of some critics... At worst, it is a discredited theory. It comes under the heading of "theories," whether credited or discredited. I am not at this stage trying to defend Marxism. The basis of the discussion keeps shifting under our feet. My present purpose is certainly not to persuade you or anyone else to agree with Marxism. The word, "myth," is just a slur. Let us agree that you disagree with a particular theory.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Apologies for being so sharp.
As said, we can't agree about that theory.
Ad astra! Sean
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