Curious how a city can be nicknamed both “Auld Reekie” and the “Athens of the North?” Today we are standing in the City of Edinburgh. It is a place of contrasts and stories layered upon stories.
Edinburgh sits on Scotland’s east coast. It hugs the southern bank of the Firth of Forth. This estuary opens into the North Sea. The Firth of Forth is geologically a fjord. The Forth glacier carved it during the Last Glacial Maximum.
Edinburgh’s story begins long before its nicknames. Evidence shows human habitation here as far back as 8500 BC. The first settlements on Castle Rock and Arthur’s Seat date to around 900 BC. The city’s geological foundation is just as impressive. Edinburgh Castle sits atop an extinct volcano formed over 700 million years ago.
The name “Edinburgh” has debated origins. One theory links it to the 7th-century King Edwin of Northumbria. “Burgh” means fortress. So “Edinburgh” would mean Edwin’s Fort. But the name likely predates King Edwin. In 600 A.D. it was called “Din Eidyn” or “Fort of Eidyn.” This was a Gododdin hillfort.
“Auld Reekie” is a Scottish nickname meaning “Old Smoky”. It refers to the smoke from coal and wood fires. These fires once filled Edinburgh skies. “Athens of the North” refers to Edinburgh’s intellectual and cultural importance. Its topography is also similar to that of Athens. The Old Town mirrors the Athenian Acropolis. Edinburgh became Scotland’s capital in 1437.
The Old Town shows a medieval street plan. The famous Royal Mile runs down from the castle. Space became an issue as the population grew in the 1500s. So they built high-rise residential areas. Buildings reached up to fourteen stories. These buildings extended below ground. This gave rise to legends of Edinburgh’s “underground city”.
The New Town was created during social reform. It was built outside the old city walls. Excess soil from the New Town’s construction went into the Nor Loch. This created what is now The Mound. The National Gallery of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy Building sit on The Mound.
Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. This recognizes the Old Town’s unique medieval layout. It also recognizes the Georgian New Town’s planned design.
Edinburgh Castle controlled often by the English in the past. Before the 10th century, Anglo-Saxons and Danelaw ruled Edinburgh. Because of this Anglo-Saxon rule, Edinburgh was involved in disputes between the English and the Scottish. King James IV moved the Royal Court to Edinburgh in the 15th century. The city became the capital by proxy.
Today, Edinburgh thrives culturally. The Edinburgh Festival draws thousands of visitors each year. It includes the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This started as a small event but now draws huge crowds.
As our tour ends think about the many layers of Edinburgh’s history. Consider its geological past and its cultural present. It is a city that truly earns its many names.