Guess the nation

[matmohair1]

OK, my turn  riddle me thus...

"In its inmost recess was an island similar to that formerly described, which contained in like manner a lake with another island, inhabited by a rude description of people. The females were much more numerous than the males, and had rough skins..."

"We pursued but could take none of the males; they all escaped to the top of precipices, which they mounted with ease, and threw down stones; we took three of the females, but they made such violent struggles, biting and tearing their captors, that we killed them, and stripped off the skins..."

who? what? were? why?

 

[Patchouli Knowledge]

The Gorillas encountered by Hanno the Navigator.

 

[matmohair1]

that was quick yeah easy, thou grim and exotic

The journey of Hano the navigator - west coast of Africa

"In its inmost recess was an island similar to that formerly described, which contained in like manner a lake with another island, inhabited by a rude description of people. The females were much more numerous than the males, and had rough skins: our interpreters called them Gorillae. We pursued but could take none of the males; they all escaped to the top of precipices, which they mounted with ease, and threw down stones; we took three of the females, but they made such violent struggles, biting and tearing their captors, that we killed them, and stripped off the skins, which we carried to Carthage: being out of provisions we could go no further."

隐藏

 

[Kentucky 『 ＨＥＩＧＵＩ 』 James]

Greeks made no distinction between Celts and Gauls, and neither did Romans. They just called them keltoi and galli respectively, no matter where they lived. But I'm just butt-hurt.

They called all European non-romans keltoi even up until the mid Byzantine period (1200s at least). Thus any descriptions of non-greek, non-romans in Europe are imbued with the same noble savage stereotypes, even if the particulars vary.

 

[MMontage]

They called all European non-romans keltoi even up until the mid Byzantine period (1200s at least).

Really? I thought Frank was the term back then.

They are covetous and cunning and have good knowledge of valuable commodities and are clever in seeking profits. They spare not even their lives in looking for gain and go to the most distant regions to trade... Moreover, they are very ingenious people; the sails of their ships are like spider's webs so that they can be turned in all directions for wind, and go anywhere they want. If one meets them in the high seas, one is often robbed by them... Wherever they go, they covet the rare commodities, and contrive by all means to take possession of the land

 

[Anarion]

Fenni.

Right. The first quote is from Tacitus, the second is Saxo Grammaticus.

They are covetous and cunning and have good knowledge of valuable commodities and are clever in seeking profits. They spare not even their lives in looking for gain and go to the most distant regions to trade... Moreover, they are very ingenious people; the sails of their ships are like spider's webs so that they can be turned in all directions for wind, and go anywhere they want. If one meets them in the high seas, one is often robbed by them... Wherever they go, they covet the rare commodities, and contrive by all means to take possession of the land

Ferengi.

 

[RC-1136]

Greeks made no distinction between Celts and Gauls, and neither did Romans. They just called them keltoi and galli respectively, no matter where they lived. But I'm just butt-hurt.

They called all European non-romans keltoi even up until the mid Byzantine period (1200s at least). Thus any descriptions of non-greek, non-romans in Europe are imbued with the same noble savage stereotypes, even if the particulars vary.

Not exactly. Those west of the Rhine were called Gauls or Celts. Those east of the Rhine were called Germans. Most important is that it's a term given to many different groups of people by outsiders (Greeks, Romans ...).

It's much more complicated than that but this idea carried on into the Middle Ages and is as well be partly responsible for nationalistic ideas in France and Germany.

 

[Kentucky 『 ＨＥＩＧＵＩ 』 James]

Okay, that makes sense. I was mainly going off byzantine primary sources written about crusaders, and it's interesting that they're referred to as a whole as keltoi.

They called all European non-romans keltoi even up until the mid Byzantine period (1200s at least).

Really? I thought Frank was the term back then.

"Frank" is a generic term for Roman Catholic European that was used by middle Eastern muslims. I don't know of anyone else using it as widely.

 

[MMontage]

Montage: Phoenicians?

Nay.

Not exactly. Those west of the Rhine were called Gauls or Celts. Those east of the Rhine were called Germans.

Romans noted that there were also Gauls living in the Danube region and Anatolia.

"Frank" is a generic term for Roman Catholic European that was used by middle Eastern muslims. I don't know of anyone else using it as widely.

The Latin Empire seems to be referred quite widely as Frankokratia by the Greek authors, and I have read more than one Greek text from the time of the First Crusade, complaining how disgusting and crude people the Franks were.

 

[Untitled.]

I have read more than one Greek text from the time of the First Crusade, complaining how disgusting and crude people the Franks were.

It's almost as if the Greek authors traveled to the 21st century to draw inspiration for their books!

 

[Anarion]

Montage: Could it be Norsemen/Vikings?

 

[kurczak]

Vikings weren't really that keen on sailing "the high seas". I would say, depends on the definition.

So, high seas, commodities, trading, sailing, horrible manners. That's the Dutch right there.

 

[Untitled.]

It does indeed sound like a colonial nation, based on the land-robbing and valuable commodities part.

 

[Paronomasia12]

It depends on who wrote it. But like you say, it could be any of those empire building nations. The Spanish, Portuguese, British, Dutch, French etc. etc. (making a list doesn't count as guessing )

 

[MMontage]

So, high seas, commodities, trading, sailing, horrible manners. That's the Dutch right there.

Right. The quote was from a Chinese description of the red-haired barbarians.

 

[RC-1136]

Not exactly. Those west of the Rhine were called Gauls or Celts. Those east of the Rhine were called Germans.

Romans noted that there were also Gauls living in the Danube region and Anatolia.

Of course. As well as e. g. in Britain or in Cisalpine Gaul

 

[MMontage]

Nah, the Britons were distinguished from the Gauls as a people of their own kind.

Another one:

...they are man-eaters as well as heavy eaters, and since, further, they count it an honourable thing, when their fathers die, to devour them, and openly to have intercourse, not only with the other women, but also with their mothers and sisters; but I am saying this only with the understanding that I have no trustworthy witnesses for it;

 

[Anarion]

Could be some pacific island, perhaps Samoa.

 

[Patchouli Knowledge]

Sounds like the Irish.

 

[MMontage]

Right.

[quote author=Strabo]Besides some small islands round about Britain, there is also a large island, Ierne, which stretches parallel to Britain on the north, its breadth being greater than its length. Concerning this island I have nothing certain to tell, except that its inhabitants are more savage than the Britons, since they are man-eaters as well as heavy eaters, and since, further, they count it an honourable thing, when their fathers die, to devour them, and openly to have intercourse, not only with the other women, but also with their mothers and sisters; but I am saying this only with the understanding that I have no trustworthy witnesses for it; and yet, as for the matter of man-eating, that is said to be a custom of the Scythians also, and, in cases of necessity forced by sieges, the Celti, the Iberians, and several other peoples are said to have practised it.
[/quote]