Re: [tied] Re: Genealogy of Irish kings

The medieval genealogies as found in the Lebor Gabala Erenn are the result
of several layers of influence. First of all, there is the attempt at
merging a suitable biblical genealogy (via Magog, son of Japhet) which is
heavily influenced by early Christian writers such as Eusebius, secondly
there is a layer of folk-etymologies (mainly concerned with coming up with
"founder" figures to be connected with prominent placenames)which is heavily
influenced by writers such as Isidore of Seville. The final layer is the
garbled remnants of pre-Christian genealogies which contains transformed
gods and demons.

In the first layer are the obvious Hebrew names like Japhet, Noah, Shem
In the second layer (many come from Isidore), we have names like Gaedel and
Eber, whose name seems to be connected with a folk-etymology of "Iberia."
In the last group, we have everyone beginning with Partholon, and especially
the people of Nemed.

-C. Gwinn