The Nation - Measure
The Scots are a nation created from a number of cultures and peoples. This fact, however, did not prevent them from defining their own history, culture and image.
This culture, created from a variety of ethnic groups, got its name as recently as the 9th century when Kenneth MacAlpin was named the first king of the Scots. There are numerous legends and myths about the formation of the Scottish culture. It combines the cultures of the francs, the Iberians, numerous cultures from Central and Eastern Europe, and even Scandinavia. This culture may be considered generally Celtic, since this name suggests a collective image that absorbed the best and most valuable of all cultures and peoples. So when the Romans arrived in the territories of Scotland in the 80s AD, they encountered the same people they met in Brittany.
A special role in the formation of the Scots as a nation played the Dal Riadi tribe that came from Ireland and the Celtic missionaries in the 4th century. We must not underestimate the significance of the Normans who introduced elements of the Viking culture in the formation of the Scottish character and spirit. The Finns, of course, coming from Scotland and Ireland, also determined some of the basic mystical aspects of the Scottish culture.
To all of the above we should add the Templars who - according to one account - found refuge in Scotland and - according to another - intentionally changed the course of history stepping down from the stage and managing many processes from places considered sacred by them and located also in Scotland.
Thus, the studying of Scotland is a serious test for the knowledge that is still subject of speculation for various esoteric people, alchemists, and representatives of different religions.
The mythology, the history and many legends in Scotland are related to water. Both literally and figuratively. Water is considered not only the basis for the formation of life, but also something that actually determines the very life of man. The basic totem sea animal in Scotland is the seal.
The adoption of this animal as a totem is associated with rhythm. The seal, like the horse on the ground, is the epitome of the rhythm of the sea and its deep powers. The transformation of this force is associated with a number of forms in which the seal may appear.
Many monsters of the Scottish folklore have quite a comprehensible character and, more interestingly, a true manifestation. Here is, for example, what is said about the time of the formation of life on earth: ‘In those days people lived like seals.’ Certain myths even associate the creation of man directly with seals.
Here, too, there are things worth pondering, if examined from a certain perspective. For example, the members of the MacCodrum clan from the Hebrides believe that they have descended directly from seals (or rather, from a female seal who married an islander).
The Picts play a special role in the history of Scotland. They mixed with the Celts and as a result both tribes were enriched with a special knowledge, which not only became their property but was also used, several centuries later, by the Templars who tried to reinstate the Celtic foundations of the state under the flag of King Robert the Bruce.
One of the points of convergence of the history of the Picts, the Celts, the Scots and the Templars became the Kilmartin district. Here the king of Dal Riada, Kenneth Mack Alpine, became the first Scottish king (although the proclamation itself happened at Scone in 850).
Well, there is another significant phenomenon associated with Scotland worth noting, which denotes, so to speak, the boundaries of exploration: the stewards. During the reign of King David was established an institute for the stewards, the hereditary governors of the royal court.
18 march 2014
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