Albion...

[max_tranmere]

Watching U2 performing 'Jerusalem' at Glastonbury it made me think about our isle, our green and pleasant land. I did some research about a few things and discovered that 'albion' is the oldest name on this isle.

From Wikipedia:

" Albion (Greek: Ἀλβιών) is the oldest known name of the island of Great Britain. It is thought to derive from the white cliffs of Dover. Today, it is still sometimes used poetically to refer to the island or England in particular. It is also the basis of the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland, Alba. New Albion and Albionoria ("Albion of the North") were briefly suggested as possible names of Canada during the period of Canadian Confederation.[1][2] "

I used to think, because I read it a few years ago, that Kent or Thames were the oldest names in Blighty but I now discover that Albion is older and not just as far as place-names go but as far as any name of any description is concerned.

I find this sort of thing very interesting.

[beutelwolf]

Just a shame that in my mind the thing was originally paired with "perfidious", i.e. that combination was the only usage of Albion I can remember from my childhood. Albion Rovers were not big on the continent...