Download Pytheas the Greek and how he discovered Britain

Pytheas the Greek and
and the discovery of
Britain
c300BC
Britain in the Iron Age
600BC-60AD
Part One: Descriptions by Classical
Authors.
FIRST CENTURY BC
ARISTOCTATIC
BRITISH CELTS
TORQUE
Pytheas the Greek



The earliest comprehensive description of the British
Isles to survive from the classical authors is by
Diodorus Siculus 1st century BC.
He uses the word Pretannia which is probably the
earliest Greek for of the word for Britain. Strabo used
the same except sometimes he adopts the b instead of
the p.
It is likely that DS used a text by Pytheas and he would
have been the first to transcribe the local word for the
islands (Pretannike) and the word the inhabitants used
for themselves (Pretani, Priteni).
Trade routes
between ‘Gaul”
and ‘Britain’
between c500200BC
The probable
route taken by
Pytheas 310BC
Note the placenames
Pytheas the Greek


In standard Latin the form with b (Britannia)
became common, but in the Celtic language of
Britain (which became Welsh, Cornish and
Breton), the form with ‘p’ persisted (Prydain).
So when Pytheas landed on the peninsula of
Belerion (Cornwall), he would have learned that
the island was called Albion, and that the people
called themselves Pretani (painted ones).
Pytheas the Greek

Pytheas made a remarkable journey north
around the British Isles some time before
320BC. On his return he wrote an account
called On the Ocean of which nothing
survives, but his observations are reported by no
less than eighteen ancient writers all crediting
Pytheas by name.
Pytheas the Greek



Some writers were dismissive (Polybius and
Strabo) but others such as Pliny the Elder were
more positive.
His journey can be traced in some detail.
It is assumed he went from Marseilles (Massalia),
he sailed around Spain to the Bay of Biscay and
then north to Britain. But it has also been
suggested that he went overland to the Gironde
and then boarded ship.
Pytheas the Greek



He is reported to have sailed to Uxisame, and then to
Kabion and from there to the Pretannic isles (Pretannike).
He calls the promontory where he landed Belerion. He
mentions two other promontories Kantion and Orkas.
In passing he noted Ireland. He gives distances
(circumnavigation). He probably made his journey in
local vessels.
He may have ventured much further even as far as
Iceland, but more likely he gives descriptions that were
known to British seafarers, suggesting that Celtic
Britons had reach as far as Iceland (at that time
unpopulated).
Pytheas the Greek

The three writers after Pytheas who described
Celtic Britain were
Diodorus Siculus
 Strabo
 C.Julius Caesar

Pytheas the Greek


Diodorus wrote in some detail. According to Barry
Cunliffe (The Extraordinary Voyage of Pytheas the Greek),
Diodorus would have based his description largely on
the (now lost) work of Pytheas. Diodorus wrote in the
1st century BC after Caesar’s two landings there.
Since Diodorus is not likely to have ventured to a part
of Europe still outside the control of Rome, his
account can be said to reflect the work of another.
Diodorus’ Description of Britain

He gives initially very exact measurements
concerning the distance from the mainland, and
it is here that we are given several placenames
which must have occurred in Pytheas’ text:
Belerion
 Kantion
 Iktis
 Orka

Diodorus’ Description of Britain




Diodorus tells us that Britain (Bretannike) is
inhabited by tribes which are auchthonous and
preserve in their ways of living the ancient
manner of life.
They use chariots, their dwellings are humble
(reeds and logs).
Their method of harvesting; bread –making
A simple life-style; large population; cold
climate.
Diodorus’ Description of Britain



Diodorus also states that the island is controlled by
numerous ‘kings’ and warlords (dynastes), but they
largely live at peace with each other.
Tin is an important export. The area around Belerion
(Land’s End) is very hospitable since they are used to
consorting with traders from abroad.
The description of tin-mining. The tin is exported on
horseback from the island of Iktis (Mount’s Bay in
Cornwall) to Galatia or Gaul, and from there to the
mouth of the river Rhone (Massalia and Narbo).
Strabo and Pliny


Both Strabo and Pliny (the Elder) claim to have
used the work of Pytheas for their descriptions
of Britain. All three authors (Diodorus)
included) give similar dimensions for Britain and
the distances from Gaul implying they all used
one source- Pytheas.
Strabo is often dismissive of Pytheas (especially
with regard to distances).
Strabo on Britain


Like Diodorus and presumably Pytheas, Strabo
starts his account by stating that Britain is
triangular in shape. He mentions Kantion
(today’s Kent) and calls it the most easterly point
in Britain.
He describes the various approaches to Britain
(ie from which ports- he is writing after Caesar’s
landings)-
Strabo’s description of Britain

Strabo’s description of the land:
Most of the island is flat and overgrown with forests
(some districts are hilly)
 The Britons produce grain, cattle, gold, silver and
iron. They export hides and slaves, and hunting
dogs.
 The Britons are taller than the Keltoi, not so yellowhaired.
 Their habits are similar to that of the Keltoi, but
more simple and barbaric. (barbarutera)

Strabo’s description of Britain





They have much milk, but do not make cheese.
Apparently not experienced in agriculture.
They use chariots like the Keltoi.
They live in forested areas.
More rain than snow. Much fog.
Inhabitants called Brettann/oi
Caesar’s description 55 and 54BC



Cesar’s description of chariot-warfare amongst
the Britons
Second landing (pursues Cassivellaunus). Gives
more detailed description of the land and the
people (south eastern Britain).
His description may well depend partly on
Pytheas (not mentioned in his text):
Caesar’s description 55 and 54BC





Britain is inhabited by tribes who declare themselves to
be indigenous to the island (the maritime area inhabited
by Belgic tribes from Gaul).
Large population; farm-buildings close to each other
(like the Galli=Gauls). Much cattle.
They use bronze or gold coins, or iron ingots.
Tin and iron is produced in ‘midland areas’.
There is a taboo against eating hare, fowl and geese.
Caesar’s description 55 and 54BC




‘the natural shape of the island is triangular, and one
side lies opposite Gaul’.
He mentions Cantium (Kent, Gr: Kantion)
Also mentions Ireland, ‘smaller by one half than
Britain’.
Also mentions the island of Man (Isle of Man),
possibly also influence of Pytheas’ writings. He
mentions the long nights in the north which only
someone such as Pytheas could have known.
Caesar’s description 55 and 54BC



Caesar saw that the people of Cantium
(Kantiaki) were the most similar to the Gauls.
Of the inlanders, the emphasis, he claims, is on
cattle, since they do not sow. They live on milk
and meat.
Woad. They have long hair. Their nonmediterranean domestic arrangements.
The Geography of Ptolemy



Claudius Ptolemaeus was a celebrated geographer and
astronomer who lived in the second century AD.
He was a Greek by descent and a native of Alexandria
in Egypt.
He invented the Ptolemaic System, an earth-centred view
of the workings of the universe, which remained
unchallenged until the time of Copernicus whose Solar
System was published in 1543.
The Geography of Ptolemy




His most remarkable publication was perhaps his Geography, a
work of seven volumes which also became a standard work until
the 15th century.
In the opening chapters of the second book of the Geography we
find information about the British Isles, chapter two is called
Albion island of Britannia.
He gives lists of prominent coastal landmarks, estuaries, as well
as the names of the British tribes and their principal towns.
Probably his information reflects the situation during the 1st
century AD.
Britain in the Iron Age
Part Two: Archaeology
Tribal groupings



When the Romans invaded Britain in 43AD they found
a country divided into a number of tribal groupings.
Some of them they adopted as the basis of their own
administrative systems.
Many of the tribes to the south would have been
socially cohesive, but in the north it is far more likely
that the names recorded were those of powerful
lineages to whom the scattered population owed some
allegiance.
Tribal groupings




http://www.roman-britain.org/tribes.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Celtic_tri
bes#Great_Britain
http://www.celtnet.org.uk/brythonic-tribes.html
http://www.gallica.co.uk/celts/tribe-map.htm
Tribal groupings



The tribes of the south-east were minting distinctive
coins by the middle of the first century BC (c50BC)
which indicates some degree of socio-economic unity.
But how far can ‘tribal groupingd’ be traced in the
archaeological record?
One way to approach the question is by considering the
distribution patterns of distinctive pottery styles,
assuming that pottery decoration reflects ethnic
division (ethnos= a tribe, a people).
Tribal groupings

It can be suggested that some of the zones
favouring particular styles of pottery decoration,
which are distinguishable as early as the 6th-5th
century BC retained a separate identity
throughout the Iron Age, emerging later in the
Roman invasion period as larger tribal units.
Tribal groupings

The region where the pottery styles are clearest
–central southern Britain-is the very area where
settlement pattern evidence suggests the
development of a complex social system based
on territorial units dominated by developed
hillforts. (Atrebates, Catuvellauni, Dobunni,
Coritani).
Tribal groupings



The sheer density of population in that area led
to the creation of a regional coherence early in
the Iron Age, and eventually to the emergence
of distinct tribes or confederations.
(The White Horse of Uffington, Berkshire).
Another area of such cohesion was in the
Yorkshire Wolds that gave the so-called Arras
Culture, dominated by the Parisi tribe. From 5th
century BC.
Tribal groupings


In other areas of the west and north, where the
settlement pattern is more dispersed and the
social unit was the extended family (or clan), a
network of relationships would have developed
by intermarriage, that created patchworks of
social interdependence.
Regional identities may well have evolved:
Tribal groupings

The groupings found in Devon and Cornwall
may have recognized their difference from those
in the east, and thought of themselves as people
of Dumnonia (Dyfnaint, Downans, Devon).
Major changes in the early 1st
century BC


The most important change that took place during this
period was the gradual move from hillforts (the centres
oif tribal groupings, large and small) to oppida, often
called territorial oppida that extended over a large
area, close to river crossing.
Such was their importance that the Romans later took
several over as regional centres, and eventually medieval
towns would be build on these sites.
HILLFORTS
WARDEN HILL, NORTHUMBRIA
DANESBURY
ABERYSTWYTH
YARNBURY, WILTSHIRE
THE EXTENSION OF THE
OPPIDA in S. Britain.




Influence from northern Gaul.
The beginnings of ‘urbanisation’ in Cetic
Britain.
Greater interdependance of the SE and central
tribal groups. Beginnings of a ‘state’.
THIS WAS THE WORLD THE Romans found
in c50BC.
Hallstatt and La Tène in Britain


From the fifth to the second century contacts
between Britain and the adjacent parts of the
Continent were maintained..
Metalwork in the new La Tène style which
developed in Europe towards the beginning of
the fifth century BC found its way into Britain
largely through exchange networks.
Hallstatt and La Tène in Britain


Many of the incoming types were rapidly copied
by local craftsmen, giving rise to distinctive
British varieties.
The Yorkshire area (Arras Culture) seems to
have seen a more extensive cultural assemblage
introduced, not only metal types but even a
different burial rite (inhumation rather than the
usual cremation).
Hallstatt and La Tène in Britain


The 6th century production of a distinctive series
of daggers and dagger sheaths in the Thames
reflect the Hallstatt D of Europe.
Production of such improved prototypes
continued through the 5th and 4th centuries, and
absorbing after about 450BC the La Tène
innovations from the Continent.
Hallstatt and La Tène in Britain

La Tène-style (1) swords start to appear on the
rivers Thames and Witham (Lincolnshire), a few
are imports. Yet, many swords in Britain seem to
follow indigenous styles and may suggest a
decline in trade between Britain and the
continent beyond the SE.
Hallstatt and La Tène in Britain
Hallstatt and La Tène in Britain


Personal ornaments of the La Tene style are
found mainly in southern Britain, the
commonest being brooches. The most
numerous are La Tene (1) brooches c 450300BC. Mainly from the south-east.
Bracelets of the La Tene type are not common
in Britain except in the Yorkshire area (Arras
culture).
The Snettisham torques
Hallstatt and La Tène in Britain


Trading between the west of Britain and the
Atlantic coasts of Gaul (France) and Iberia
(Spain) is well attested in classical literature and
the archaeological record.
Some of the finds in SW Britain belong to
classes of artifact found in SW France and
Spain. These finds reflect the Atlantic trade
during the late Hallstatt and La Tene periods, at
least between 5th and 2nd century BC.
Coins during the 1st centrury BC

Initially coinage was introduced from Centic
tribes in northern Gaul.
Everyday implements