Celtic Alphabet: The Ogham

The origin of the Alphabet Ogham is ascribed to the 'God of Poetry and Eloquence' of Celtic Ireland, called Ogam. Ogham writing is the earliest known form of written Irish. It consists of an alphabet of twenty letters used for stone and wood inscriptions in Celtic Ireland. The letters consist of one to five perpendicular or angled strokes meeting or crossing a centre line. The form of the letters allows them to be carved easily on objects of wood and stone.

Any wood Ogham inscription have, of course, long vanished. However, there are roughly 400 Ogham inscriptions in stone found to date, of which 330 are from Ireland. The other Ogham stones have been found in England, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man and Shetland Ogham inscriptions consist almost exclusively of personal names and marks, possibly indicating land ownership, though some appear to be memorials to the dead. The Irish had no other written alphabet until Christian missionaries introduced Latin. Ogham ceased to be used after the first few centuries of the Christian era, as the use of inscription language was reviled as a pagan practice.

Celtic Tree Astrology

Ogham is sometimes referred to as the Celtic Tree Language as each letter was named after a tree the people were familiar with, and used. The Celts envisioned the entire Universe in the form of a tree, whose roots grew deep into the ground and whose branches reached high into the Heavens. In time, the Celtic people eventually designated a tree to each Moon Phase in their calendar in accordance with its secret and magical properties. Therefore, the Celtic Zodiac is based upon the cycle of the Moon, with the year divided into the 13 lunar months established by the Druid religion.

Knotwork---Celtic Spirals---Celtic Cross

Celtic Animals---Celtic Magic---Druid History

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