OGHAM LETTERS


        This is an attempt to reproduce the inscription style letter
    used in the Ogham writings.

        It is to be understood that there are four groups of carved 
    line letters that were originally developed.  Later another
    group of five signs were added to accommodate phonics encountered
    by contact with Latin and Greek languages.

        The signs are made by drawing a based line (i.e. ________) 
    and then marking the desired sign from that, either downward or to
    the right for B L N F S  or  B L F S N  (see the note on Ogham 
    order); upward or to the left for H D T C (Q/P); angled across the
    base line for M G NG (Ss/Z) R.  The vowels A O U E I were marked
    by a vertical line across the base line.

         In addition to the original letter the foreign phonics sounds
    Kh/Ch (sounded in Celtic as Ea), Th (Oi), P (Ia), Ph (Ui), and X
    (Ae) were more drawn entirely differently.  Kh was a St. Andrew's
    cross, Th was a diamond shape (a lozenge), P was a piece of latice
    work consisting of two crossong line in each direction, Ph was a
    spiral, and X was a portcullis (basicly a tic-tac-toe sign in a
    box) which surrounds the outside).

        Liz and Colin Murry give these letter names and meanings as
            Letter:   Name:       Translation:
            Kh/Ch     Koad        Grove
            Th        Oir         Spindle
            P/Pe      Uilleand    Honeysuckle
            Ph        Phagos      Beech
            X/Xi      Mor         Sea.


        Now to make the matter even more interesting or curious, 
    (and Goddess knows Celtic mythology and mysteries are certainly
    that), there are two other items of importance about the letters.
    Two of the standard consonsants were add to the letter list but
    in order to preserve the calendary attributions of the existing
    system neither was assigned a month.  These are P/Q and Ss/Z.

        First the easy one, Ss/Z  is placed between NG (Ngethal) and
    R (Ruis).  The name of the letter is 'Straif' and the associated
    tree is the Blackthorn.

        On to the good one - Q/P!  To imitate J.C. (Julius Caeser,
    not the other one):All Celtic language is divided into two parts.
    Q-Celts and P-Celts were an early division of the Celtic tribes
    which occured prior to the invasion to Britian by the Goidelic
    people (or Q-Celts) in about 600 B.C.E.  Their form of the
    language included the letter Q.  They are identified by their
    'frill-comb-smear' pottery and had adopted the 'Hallstadt'
    Iron-age culture.  These are the people who force the Picts
    and other Stone-age people to withdraw into the hills and forests.
    The letter Q is named 'Quert' and the tree is the Apple. It is 
    placed between C (Coll) and M (Muin) in the series.




        The P-Celts are the continental Belgic tribe of the 'La Tene'
    Iron-age culture and there are the ruling Britians that the 
    Romans encountered.  One of the main deities is 'Beli' and
    probably it is this change in control in about 400 B.C.E. that
    the 'Battle of the Trees" celebrates.  In their version of the
    Celtic language there is no Q sound, but instead the phonic-letter
    P appears. P is named 'Pethboc' and the tree is the Dwarf or Water
    Elder.  This letter is substituted in the series on consonants 
    in the place of NG (Ngethal).



       In an attempt to mark the letters I am going draw a horizontal
    baseline and append the markings to it.



        ________________________________________________
            I       II      III     IIII        IIIII

            B       L        F        S           N          or
            B       L        N        F           S





            I       II       III     IIII         IIIII 
        ----------------------------------------------------

            H       D         T        C           (Q)



        ____/_______//________///_____////__________/////________
           /       //        ///     ////          /////         

           M       G        NG (P)   (Ss/Z)         R             



        __I________II_______III______IIII__________IIIII_________
          I        II       III      IIII          IIIII         

          A         O        U        E              I



        Also according to Murry Hope, "The old Irish Beth-Luis-Nion
    did not apperar to include Q, SS or Y, as it only consisted of
    thirteen consonants, and five vowels.  Quert and Straif were later
    add by Graves, who also effected a connection between the Boibel-
    Loth 'Idra', the letter Y, and the hallowed Mistletoe which was
    considered too sacred to be accorded a written name."  
             Hope, Murry; Practical Celtic Magic; p.140


 




maintained by Jeff Morton / Ioldanach@yahoo.com / Ioldanach@yahoo.com
disclaimer