Parisi (tribe)

Approximate supposed territory of the Parisi

The Parisi were a British Celtic tribe located somewhere within the present-day East Riding of Yorkshire, in England, known from a single brief reference by Ptolemy in his Geographica of about AD 150. Many writers have connected them with the archaeological Arras culture and some with the more widely known Parisii of Gaul.^[1]

Historical sources and archaeology

The Parisi are known from a description in Ptolemy's Geographica (Geographica II, 3, 10) which locates them to near Opportunum Sinus ("Good harbour").^{[n 1]} Ptolemy is presumed never to have visited Roman Britain, compiling his work from existing sources, probably in Alexandria.

The tribe is inferred to have been surrounded by the Brigantes, and with the Coritani south of them across the Humber. Ptolemy mentions the Parisi in association with Petvaria, a town thought to be located close to Brough, East Riding of Yorkshire.^{[5][n 2]} Ptolemy also mentions a promontory Promontarium Ocellum, which may be either Spurn Head or Flamborough Head.^[7]

The translation and interpretation of Ptolemy's work has not been consistent over time, with differing interpretations creating potential contradictions in the spatial relationship between Opportunum Sinus and Petuaria. A more recent interpretation (2005) places both the Parisi and Petuaria on the Opportunum Sinus which leads to the common interpretation of Opportunum Sinus to be impossible geographically – an alternative feature – the inlet near Brough to Walling Fen has been suggested.^[4] Brough/Petuaria also had a harbour in Roman times (further inland than the current Brough Haven) which has long since silted up, further supporting this interpretation.

The Parisi are also mentioned in the forgery De Situ Britanniae originally credited to Richard of Cirencester (14th century AD): the Parisi's towns supposedly included Petuaria and a place Portus Felix, the locations of which were uncertain, and subject to speculation in the 19th century.^[3][8][9]

Evidence for link with continental tribes

Burials in East Yorkshire dating from the pre-Roman Iron Age are distinguished as those of the Arras Culture,^[10] and show differences from surrounding areas, generally lacking grave goods, but chariot burials and burials with swords are known,^[5] but are similar (chariot burials) to those ascribed to the La Tène culture of areas of western and central Europe, giving a potential link to the similarly named Parisii of Gaul.^[1]

Etymology

The origin of the name is uncertain; Celticists John T. Koch and Raimund Karl propose a Celtic linguistic origin, meaning "the commanders", similar to the Welsh verb peri (to cause, command or have done, from Proto-Celtic *k^wer-).^[11] Linguist Eric Hamp also links the name to this verb and suggests a meaning of "fighters".^[12] Xavier Delamarre prefers to link the ethnic name to the P-Celtic root *pario- "cauldron" and translates Parisi as "they of the cauldrons" (taking their name after a distinctive type of vessel used by the Iron Age Celts).^[13]

Notes

1. Thought to be Bridlington bay, though this is not certain,^[2] also identified as Holderness or Spurn Head by 19th century authors.^[3] The bay at Filey has also been posited as a possible location.^[4]
2. The Roman settlement at Petuaria has been presumed to be at Brough, on the basis of an inscription found on a stone at an excavation as Bozzes (field) in Brough in 1937.^[6]

References

1. Koch, John T. (2006), "Arras culture", Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia, Volumes 1–5, ABC-CLIO, p. 88, ISBN 9781851094400
2. Elgee, Frank (1930), Early man in north-east Yorkshire, p. 201, The location of the bay round which the Parisi lived has always been doubtful..
3. Sheahan, J. J.; Whellan, T. (1857), History and topography of the City of York, the East Riding of Yorkshire, and a portion of the West Riding, vol. 2, pp. 303, 305
4. Halkon 2013, Chap.2 "The Landscape of Eastern Yorkshire".
5. "The Parisi", www.roman-britain.org, retrieved 26 May 2012
6. Halkon 2013, Chap.7 The Impact of Rome – The Larger Settlements.
7. Ramm 1978, p. 22.
8. Thompson, Thomas (1824), Ocellum promontorium: or, Short observations on the ancient state of Holderness, with Historic facts relative to the sea port & market town of Ravenspurne, in Holderness
9. Walker, John (1834), "VIII. Observations to prove Filey Bay, in Yorkshire, the Portus Felixm or Sinus Salutaris; and Flamborough Head, the Ocellum Promontorium, of the Romans", Archaeologia: or miscellaneous tracts relating to antiquity, vol. 25, Society of Antiquaries of London, pp. 127–145
10. Murray, Stephen J., "British Tribes", www.dot-domesday.me.uk, retrieved 31 May 2016
11. Koch, John, Celtic Culture, ABC-CLIO, 2006, p. 88; 199.
12. Hamp, Eric, "Morphologic criteria and evidence in Roman British: 7. Parisi, Πάρισοι", Ériu (44), 1993, p. 179.
13. Delamarre, Xavier, Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise, 2nd ed., Editions Errance, Paris, 2003, p. 247.

Sources

• Halkon, Peter (2013), The Parisi: Britons and Romans in East Yorkshire, The History Press, ISBN 978-0752448411
• Ramm, Herman Gabriel (1978), The Parisi, Duckworth

Further reading

• Halkon, Peter (1989), New light on the Parisi, recent discoveries in Iron Age and Roman East Yorkshire, East Riding Archaeological Soc., University of Hull School of Adult and Continuing Education, ISBN 0905218035

External links