Eblani facts for kids
The Eblani were an ancient people who lived in Ireland a very long time ago. We only know about them from an old map and book called Geography. This book was written by a Greek geographer named Ptolemy in the 2nd century AD. He said the Eblani lived on the east coast of Ireland. This area is roughly north of where County Dublin is today.
Contents
The Ancient Eblani People
Who Were the Eblani?
The Eblani are a bit of a mystery! They are only mentioned in Ptolemy's ancient book. This book is one of the few records we have of ancient Ireland. The name "Eblani" comes from the Greek words Eblanoi or Eblanioi.
Eblana: An Ancient "City"
Ptolemy also wrote about a "city" called Eblana. He placed it between two rivers. These rivers were called Buvinda and Oboca. Today, these are likely the River Boyne and the River Liffey. This means Eblana was probably a coastal settlement. It would have been located somewhere between these two important rivers.
Where Did They Live?
The Eblani lived on the east coast of Ireland. Ptolemy's map shows their region. It was generally north of modern-day County Dublin. This area was likely important for trade and travel.
Modern Theories About the Eblani
Some historians have tried to connect the Eblani to other ancient names. One idea was that the name "Eblani" might be linked to a place called Edmann. Edmann was a region on the east coast, possibly in County Louth. However, this idea is probably not correct. It was based on a mistake in how Ptolemy's old texts were copied.
More recently, a local historian named Brendan Mathews suggested another link. He thought the Eblani might be connected to ancient burial mounds. These are called passage graves. They are located at the mouth of the Delvin river. These graves would have been a very noticeable landmark. They also marked a good harbor in Ptolemy's time. It is possible that the name "Eblana" changed over time to "Delvin."
