"hominem unius libri timeo" "hominem unius libri timeo" "hominem unius libri timeo"

"whithersoever you throw it, it will stand!"

The distinctive Isle of Man symbol, the Three Legs of Man, was first officially used on the Manx Sword of State in the early fouteenth century. Clad in armour and bearing spurs, the legs run in the clock-wise direction and as a testament to the islanders' independence and resilience, bears the Latin motto 'Quocunque Jeceris Stabit' or "whithersoever you throw it, it will stand". Notably, the symbol appears on the Manx Coat of Arms flanked by a Raven and a Peregrine Falcon. (see picture obove)

Isle of Man

When introducing the Isle of Man, also spelled Mann, Manx-Gaelic Ellan Vannin, or Mannin, Latin Mona, or Monapia one of the British Isles it is very tempting to wax lyrical about its many charms and brush over the not-so-attractive bits but to really live here is to experience an often contradictory combination of the very beautiful and the very ordinary, the sophisticated and the old-fashioned, the progressive and the traditional. Similar, certainly, to many other evolving British communities - but also a separate, independent, ancient kingdom with its own unique 'Manx' character and language.

The Isle of Man is not part of the United Kingdom but rather is a crown possession (since 1828) that is self-governing in its internal affairs under the supervision of the British Home Office

Location:
The Isle of Man is located in the middle of the Irish Sea, 83 miles from Liverpool and 90 miles from Belfast and is approximately 221 miles or 572 kilometres square, being 32.5 miles (50 kilometres) long from north to south and 13.5 miles (20 kilometres) wide from east to west. Scenically it has a little of everything that is attractive about the British Isles - a central mountain, Snaefell (2,036 feet or 620 metres), surrounded by hills that lead down to seventeen national Glens, fertile farmland and a varied coastline.

Population:
The Island's resident population numbered 76,535 in September 2001 - roughly half being Manx born and the rest largely British, although an increasingly varied mix of nationalities are moving here to work in the financial and service industries.

Capital town:
The capital town is Douglas, the seat of the Manx Government and main centre of population. Other major settlements are Onchan, Ramsey, Peel, Port Erin, Castletown and Port St Mary. New housing in estates and village outskirts is gradually changing the traditional look of the Island but there is still plenty of 'green' space and quiet, unspoilt countryside.
Just off the southern tip of the Island lies a two square kilometre islet called the Calf of Man, an offical Bird Sanctuary which is owned by the Manx National Trust. The Calf's only year-round resident is a warden but it is open to public visits during the summer.

Parliament:
The most enduring relic of Scandinavian culture in the Isle of Man is the Island’s parliament, Tynwald. After 1,000 years the world’s oldest continuous parliament meets once a year at midsummer on the Tynwald Hill at St. Johns.

Insel, Insel, Insel Man...

Wenn ich der Gott Mannanin wär',
Dann wüsste ich nur dies;
Ich nähm' in meine Arme fest
Mein grünes Paradies

Ich drückte es ganz eng an mich
Und sag' "Nimm’s nicht so schwer“
Ich komm’ bald wieder, ganz gewiss!
Verlass’ Dich dann nicht mehr.

Ich finde dich so wunderschön,
Du darfst, Du wirst nie untergehn...

...Insel, Insel, Insel Man
Es ist doch alles gut,
Dein Kätzchen hat kein Schwänzchen
Es ist doch alles gut,
Insel, Insel Feenwind
In Laxey dreht ein Rad geschwind.

See more pictures in the second Travel Page

For the ones interested in Manx war time history; the book recommended below tells about an almost unknown story of the lives of Jewish-German war internees on the Isle of Man during World War II.

David Baddiel; The Secret Purpose
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Little Brown (August 5, 2004)
ISBN: 0316859311

a click on the Three legs of Man will take you to the Isle of Man