Names of Countries

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Jul 1, 1875

Names of Countries.

Europe signifies a country of white complexions; so named because the inhabitants there were of lighter complexion than those of either Asia or Africa. Africa signifies the land of corn, or ears. It was celebrated for its abundance of corn and all kinds of grain. Spain, a country of rabbits or conies. This country was once so infested with these animals that the inhabitants petitioned Augustus for an army to destroy them. Italy, a country of pitch; from its yielding great quantities of black pitch. Gaul, modern France, signifies yellow-haired; as yellow hair characterized its first inhabitants. Hibernia, as utmost or last habitation; for beyond this, westward, Phœnicians, we are told, never extended their voyages. Britain, the country of tin, as there were great quantities of lead and tin found on the adjacent island. The Greeks called it Albion, which signifies in the Phœnician's tongue either white or high mountains, from whiteness of its shores, or the high rocks on the western coast.