| Abstract: |
The O'Donnell lecture for 1966 discusses 16th-18th century antiquarian thought about Celts and Saxons. The Saxons, being historically documented, were relatively easy to place, and in addition Anglo-Saxon philology was well under way in 16th cent. Celtic philology, however, was handicapped by the shortage of texts and the extreme difficulty of the old forms. At this time the Biblical framework of history required that Britons trace their descent from Noah, and thence it seemed possible, by various routes, to demonstrate consanguinity of Celt and Saxon. The linguistic use of "Celtic" was established, albeit confusedly, by end 17th cent; Lhwyd more usefully distinguished between C (now Q) Celtic and P Celtic. By 17th cent the Celts, although firmly established in British history, were seen alternately as idealised noble savages and squalid heathen. In 18th cent, muddles arose between Celtic and Saxon poetry and architecture; and Stukeley's enthusiastic Druidism eventually led to the confusions still seen today. |
