Εβουδαι
Attested: Pliny Natural History 4, 102: XXX Hebudes
Ptolemy 2,2,11: above Hibernia lie the so-called Εβουδαι, five in number, their western island is called Εβουδα and the next to the east is also called Εβουδα then Ρικινα (or Εγγαρικεννα) then Μαλεος (or Μαλαιος) then Επιδιον.
Gloss on Solinus: Ebudes & Ebudibus; Marcian/Stephanus Αιβουδαι & Αιβουδαιος
Where: Ptolemy's coordinates map best to the Scottish islands of Islay and Jura, according to Kleineberg, Marx, and Lelgemann (2013), with the other three names belonging to Rathlin Island, the Isle of Mull, and the Kintyre peninsula.
Name origin: Rivet & Smith could find no etymology within Celtic. A geographically logical meaning in Greek (which seems to be prominent in western island names), might be ‘droplets’ from ειβω ‘to fall in drops’ plus ουδος ‘threshold’ or ουδαιος ‘on the ground’. This analysis outranks the previous best guess, based on PIE *apo- ‘off’ plus *ūt- ‘out’
Notes: The modern name Hebrides was based on this name, in a mistaken reading of Ptolemy. The similarity with Ptolemy's Επιδιοι people has long been noted, but that does not lead to any convincing etymology. Less likely Graeco-Roman parallels include επτα ‘seven’, ηβη ‘youth’, and ebur ‘ivory’ (probably from Egyptian), plus the Greek ending –δαι ‘sons of’ or ‘people’. Marine mammals would have been common around Scotland islands in Roman times, and it is easy to imagine travellers to the Hebrides coming back with trade goods carved from walrus or whalebone ivory, like the Lewis chessmen, or talking of a whalebone arch. An experienced geologist may be able to say more definitely why Ptolemy counted FIVE islands. It is possible that Islay was two islands in Roman times, with the present low ground between Uiskentuie and Gruinart underwater at high tide, but has since risen relative to sea level, because of post-glacial isostatic rebound, like so much other land in this area. This is important because Μαλεος also claims Islay.
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Last edited 7 June 2023 to main Menu