Dindsenchas

Dindsenchas [' d ʴ indhenxas ], also Dinnshenchas refers to a collection of place names declarations of Ireland. The meaning is translated as " history of the place ." There are different versions of the 12th and 13th centuries, individual ones of the Dindsenchas already come from the 9th century and are even older, but are also manuscripts from the 16th century survived.

Three different versions are handed down in the manuscripts. The oldest (A) is located in the Lebor Laignech ( "The Book of Leinster " ) with over 100 mostly anonymous poems and some prose texts. The second (B), however, the majority of prose texts with short epigrams as a conclusion. Together, these two versions are the basis for the third ( C), which is constructed similar to the second version. The sequence of chapters follows a fictional journey of Temair, the mythical seat of Höchkönige Ireland, clockwise through all the provinces ( Meath, Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster ). The place name declarations are partly traditional local legends, partly medieval speculation.

The name Dindsenchas consists of the Irish words together Dind ( " hill, hill " ) and Sencha ( " traditional knowledge "). However, not only terrain, but all historical or mythological relevant locations are recorded and explained.

To the idea of ​​gaining the control of the country by knowing its history see also Acallam na Senórach. .