The Phœnician origin of Britons, Scots & Anglo-Saxons : discovered by Phœnician & Sumerian inscriptions in Britain, by preroman Briton coins & a mass of new history : with over one hundred illustrations and maps

40 PH@NICIAN ORIGIN OF BRITONS & SCOTS

cian sites, such as in Caria (an early Phoenician colony) and in Lycia adjoining Cilicia, and in Boeotia in Greece It thus seems not impossible that Bennachie mountain may preserve the title of the famous “ Peenig’’ king who first civilized this part of Britain and erected his votive pillar at its foot, and who presumably was buried beside it under the shadow of the beautiful Bennachie. Or there may have been a Sun-altar on its topmost peak or at its base, dedicated by this Phoenician king or his descendants to the ‘‘ Pheenix”’ Sun-bird emblem of Bil or Bel. (See later).

In this regard also, the name of “ Bleezes’ for the old inn at the foot of Mt. Bennachie (now a farm house) is suggestive of former Bel Fire worship here. ‘“ Bleezes,’ “Blaze,” Blayse, or Blaise, was the name of a canonical saint introduced into the Early Christian Church in the fourth century, from Cappadocia, like St. George,? and, like the latter, has no authentic historical Christian original, but is evidently a mythical incorporation of the Bel Fire cult introduced for proselytizing purposes. He was made the patron-saint of Candlemas Day, 2nd (or 3rd) February—the solar festival of end of winter and beginning of spring, mid-way between Yule or Old-time Christmas, the end of the solar year and the spring equinox ; it is still the common name for the beginning of the Scottish fiscal year.* He is represented in art as carrying “a lighted taper, typical of his being a burning and a shining light.”* So popular was his worship in Britain in the Middle Ages that the Council of Oxford in 1222 prohibited secular labour on that day.’ It was till lately the custom in many parts of England to light bonfires on the hills on St. Blazes’ night. Norwich still observes his day, and at Bradfordin Yorkshire a festivalis held every five years in honour of St. Blaze.’ He was specially associated with the text in Job v., 23 “ thou shalt be in league

1Strabo, 410; 651; 666.

: The traditional place of his massacre was at the old Hittite city of Savast. Y¥.M.P., 1, 43-

2Qn a ‘“‘ Candlemas Bleeze”’ tax, ch. H.P.F., 85.

“B.L.S., Feb., 49.

5 Ib. 48.

° 7b. 48; and Percy, Notes on Northumberland, 1770, 332. 7 B.L.S., Feb., 48.