The <i>Leabhar Gabhála</i> and Carolingian origin legends
Michael Clarke
The Irish Leabhar Gabhála is poised between several different literary modes: conduit of ancient traditions, bogus charter national identity, by-product commentary on Latin cosmography and world history. Attempts to explain the themes purposes its earlier sections (Tracts I II) usually focus parallels story ancestors that Hebrews Old Testament. This article attempts situate work in context Carolingian global histories, focussing theme origins each nation westward wanderings fugitives from classical heartlands eastern Mediterranean or western Asia. It argued narrative travels ancesters Goídil (Irish) involves an implicit parallel with Romans, Franks, British fall Troy. paper proposes this may have been prominent a lost version Gabhala which parts are preserved as embedded quotations hagiographical texts.
Studia traditionis theologiae