Ogham inscriptions
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There are roughly 400 known Ogham inscriptions scattered around the Irish Sea, the bulk of them dating to the 5th and 6th centuries. Their language is predominantly Primitive Irish, but a few examples record fragments of the Pictish language.
There are a number of different numbering schemes. The most widespread is CIIC, after Macalister. This covers the inscriptions known by the 1940s. Another numbering scheme is that of the Celtic Inscribed Stones Project, CISP, based on the location of the stones; for example CIIC 1 = CISP INCHA/1. Macalister's (1945) numbers run from 1 to 507, including also Latin and Runic inscriptions, with three additional added in 1949. Ziegler lists 344 Gaelic Ogham inscriptions known to Macalister (Ireland and Isle of Man) , and seven additional inscriptions discovered later.
The inscriptions may be divided into "orthodox" and "scholastic" specimens. "Orthodox" inscriptions date to the Primitive Irish period, and record a name of an individual, either as a cenotaph or tombstone, or documenting land ownership. "Scholastic" inscriptions date from the medieval Old Irish period up to Modern times.
MacManus (1991) lists a total of 382 known Orthodox inscriptions. They are found in most counties of Ireland, concentrated in Southern Ireland: County Kerry (130), Cork (84), Waterford (48), Kilkenny (14), Mayo (9), Kildare (8), Wicklow and Meath (5 each), Carlow (4), Wexford, Limerick, Roscommon (3 each), Antrim, Cavan, Louth, Tipperary (2 each), Armagh, Dublin, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Derry and Tyrone (1 each). Other specimens are known from Wales (ca. 40: Pembrokeshire (16), Breconshire and Carmarthenshire (7 each), Glamorgan (4), Cardiganshire (3), Denbighshire (2), Carnarvonshire (1)), Cornwall (5) Devon (2), and the Isle of Man (5), with some doubtful examples from Scotland (2?) and England (1?).
Collection University College Cork
Antiquarian Abraham Abell1783-1851 collected ogham inscriptions and his collection was deposited in the Cork Institutuion and is now in University College Cork on public display in 'The Stone corridor'. He was a member of the Cuvierian Society of Cork whose members including John Windele Fr. Matt Horgan and R.R. Brash did extensive work in this area in the mid-19th Century
Orthodox
Ireland
| ID | Text | Translation / Personal names | Location | Notes |
| CIIC 1 | LIE LUGNAEDON MACCI MENUEH | "The stone of Lugnaedon son of Limenueh". | Inchagoill Island, Co Galway | [link] [link] [link] [link] |
| CIIC 2 | QENUVEN[DI | Cloonmorris, Mohill, Co Leitrim | [link] [link] [link] | |
| CIIC 3 | CUNALEGI AVI QUNACANOS | "Cunalegi, descendant of Qunacanos" | Island, Costello, Co Mayo | [link] |
| CIIC 4 | LUGADDON MA[QI] L[U]GUDEC DDISI MO[--]CQU SEL | Kilmannia, Costello, Co Mayo | [link] | |
| CIIC 5 | ALATTOS MAQI BR[ | Rusheens East, Costello, Co Mayo | [link] | |
| CIIC 6 | QASIGN[I]MAQ[I] | Tullaghaun, Costello, Co Mayo | [link] | |
| CIIC 7 | ]MAQ CERAN[I] AVI ATHECETAIMIN | Corrower, Gallen, Co Mayo | [link] | |
| CIIC 8 | MA[QUI MUCOI] CORBAGNI GLASICONAS | Dooghmakeon, Murrisk, Co Mayo | [link] | |
| CIIC 9 | MAQACTOMAQGAR | Aghaleague, Tirawley, Co Mayo | [link] almost illegible | |
| CIIC 10 | L[E]GG[--]SD[--] LEGwESCAD / MAQ CORRBRI MAQ AMMLLOGwITT | Breastagh, Tirawley, Co Mayo | [link] | |
| CIIC 141 | MAQI MAQ[I..O]GGODIKA | Aglish, Corkaguiney, Co Kerry | [link] [link] The Ogham stone was cut into an early Christian gravestone, at which time were added a cross pattée and an arrow-like motif flanked by two swastikas | |
| CIIC 193 | ANM COLMAN AILITHIR | "[written in] the name of Colmán, the pilgrim" | Maumanorig, Co Kerry |
|
| CIIC 200 | MAQI-TTAL MAQI VORGOS MAQI MUCOI TOICAC | Maqi-Ttal, Vorgos, Toicac | Coolmagort, Dunkerron North, Co Kerry | [link] |
| CIIC 300 | CUNNETAS MAQI GUC[OI] NETA-SEGAMONAS | Cunnetas, Neta-Segamonas | Old Island, Decies without Drum, Co Waterford | [link] |
| CIIC 317 | DOTETTO MAQ[I MAGLANI] | Dotetto, Maglani(?) | Aghascrebagh, Upper Strabane, Co Tyrone | [link] |
| CIIC 1082 | GLANNANI MAQI BBRANNAD | Ballybroman, Co Kerry | [link] | |
| CIIC 1083 | COMMAGGAGNI MU[CO]I SAMMNN | Rathkenny, Ardfert, Corkaguiney, Co Kerry | [link] | |
Wales
| ID | Text | Translation / Personal names | Location | Notes |
| CIIC 423 | Q[--]QA[--]GTE | Castle Villa, Brawdy, Pembrokeshire | [link] | |
| CIIC 426 | NETTASAGRI MAQI MUCOE BRIACI | Nettasagri, Briaci | Bridell, Pembrokeshire | [link] |
| CIIC 427 | MAGL[I]DUBAR [--]QI | Magl[ia], Dubr[acunas] | Caldey Island, Penally, Pembrokeshire | [link] |
| CIIC 456 | GENDILI | Steynton, Pembrokeshire | [link] Latin "GENDILI" | |
England, Isle of Man, Scotland
| ID | Text | Translation / Personal names | Location | Notes |
| CIIC 466 | IGENAVI MEMOR | Lewannick, Cornwall | [link] Latin text "INGENVI MEMORIA" | |
| CIIC 467 | U[L]CAG[.I] / [.L]CAG[.]I | Ulcagni | Lewannick, Cornwall | [link] Latin text "[HI]C IACIT VLCAGNI" |
| CIIC 470 | LA[TI]NI | Worthyvale, Slaughterbridge, Minster, Cornwall | [link] Latin text "LATINI IC IACIT FILIUS MACARI" | |
| CIIC 484 | [I]USTI | St Kew, Cornwall | a block of Granite, Latin "IVSTI" in a cartouche | |
| CIIC 489 | SVAQQUCI MAQI QICI | "[The stone] of Safaqqucus, son of Qicus" | Ivybridge, Fardel, Devon | [link] |
| CIIC 488 | ENABARR | Roborough Down, Buckland Monachorum, Devon | [link] | |
| CIIC 496 | EBICATO[S] [MAQ]I MUCO[I] [ | Silchester, Hampshire | [link] excavated 1893 | |
| CIIC 500 | FILIVS-ROCATI | HIC-IACIT ᚛ᚒᚁᚔᚉᚐᚈᚑᚄᚋᚐᚊᚔᚏᚑᚉᚐᚈᚑᚄ᚜ [.]b[i]catos-m[a]qi-r[o]c[a]t[o]s
| "Ammecatus son of Rocatus lies here" "[Am]bicatos son of Rocatos" | Knoc y Doonee, Kirk Andreas | [link] combined Latin and Ogam |
| CIIC 501 | CUNAMAGLI MAC[ | |||
| CIIC 502 | ]MAQ LEOG[ | |||
| CIIC 503 | DOVAIDONA MAQI DROATA | "Dovaido son of the Druid." | Ballaqueeney, Port St Mary, Rushen | [link] |
| CIIC 504 | BIVAIDONAS MAQI MUCOI CUNAVA[LI] | "Of Bivaidonas, son of the tribe Cunava[li]" | Ballaqueeney, Port St Mary, Rushen | [link] |
| CIIC 506 | VICULA MAQ CUGINI | Vicula, Cugini | Gigha, Argyll | |
| CIIC 507 | ]CRON[-][N][ | Poltaloch, Kilmartin, Argyll | [link] fragment, recognized in 1931 | |
| CIIC 1068 | LUGNI | Ballavarkish, Bride | [link] recognized 1911; crosses and animals, 8th or 9th century | |
Scholastic
Scholastic inscriptions typically draw a line into the stone's surface along which the letters are arranged, rather than using the stone's edge. They begin in the course of the 6th century, and continue into Old and Middle Irish, and even into Modern times. From the High Middle Ages, contemporary to the Manuscript tradition, they may contain Forfeda. The 30 or so Pictish inscriptions qualify as early Scholastic, roughly 6th to 9th century. Some Viking Age stones on Man and Shetland are in Old Norse, or at least contain Norse names.Scotland, Shetland
| ID | Text | Translation / Personal names | Location | Notes |
| CISP BRATT/1 | IRATADDOARENS[ | Addoaren (Saint Ethernanus?) | Brandsbut, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire | [link] [link] Pictish(?), dated 6th to 8th century |
| CISP BREAY/1 | CRRO[S]SCC : NAHHTVVDDA[DD]S : DATTRR : [A]NN[--] BEN[I]SES MEQQ DDR[O]ANN[-- | Nahhtvdd[add]s, Benises, Dr[o]ann | Bressay, Shetland | [link] Norse or Gaelic, contains five forfeda |
Isle of Man
- CISP KMICH/1, an 11th century combined Runic and Ogam inscription in Kirk Michael churchyard, Kirk Michael, Isle of Man [link]
- :᚛ ᚁᚂᚃᚄᚅᚆᚇᚈᚉᚊᚋᚌᚍᚎᚏᚐᚑᚒᚒᚔ ᚜
- :᚛ ᚋᚒᚒᚉᚑᚋᚐᚂᚂᚐᚃᚔᚒᚐᚋᚒᚂᚂᚌᚒᚉ ᚜
- :ᛘᛅᛚ᛬ᛚᚢᛘᚴᚢᚿ᛬ᚱᛅᛁᛋᛏᛁ᛬ᚴᚱᚢᛋ᛬ᚦᛁᚾᛅ᛬ᛁᚠᛏᛁᚱ᛬ᛘᛅᛚ᛬ᛘᚢᚱᚢ᛬ᚠᚢᛋᛏᚱᛅ᛬ᛋᛁᚾᛁ᛬ᛏᚭᛏᛁᚱᛏᚢᚠᚴᛅᛚᛋ᛬ᚴᚭᚾᛅ᛬ᛁᛋ᛬ᛅᚦᛁᛋᛚ᛬ᛅᛏᛁ᛭
- :ᛒᛁᛏᚱᛅᛁᛋ᛬ᛚᛅᛁᚠᛅ᛬ᚠᚢᛋᛏᚱᛅ᛬ᚴᚢᚦᛅᚾ᛬ᚦᛅᚾ᛬ᛋᚭᚾ᛬ᛁᛚᛅᚾ᛭
- :blfsnhdtcqmgngzraouei
- :MAL : LUMKUN : RAISTI : KRUS : ThINA : IFTIR : MAL : MURU : FUSTRA : SINI : TOTIRTUFKALS : KONA : IS : AThISL : ATI+
[B]ITRA : IS : LAIFA : FUSTRA : KUThAN : ThAN : SON : ILAN + - :(Ogham abecedarium)
- :"Mucomael grandson/descendant of O'Maelguc"
- :"Mal Lumkun set up this cross in memory of Mal Mury her foster-son, daughter of Dufgal, the wife whom Athisl married,"
- :"Better it is to leave a good foster son than a bad son"
Ireland
- A 19th century Ogham inscription from Ahenny, Co. Tipperary (Raftery 1969)
- :Beneath this sepulchral tomb lie the remains of Mary Dempsey who departed this life January the 4th 1802 aged 17 years
- :᚛ᚃᚐᚐᚄᚂᚔᚌᚄᚑᚅᚐᚂᚒᚐᚈᚐᚋᚐᚏᚔᚅᚔᚇᚆᚔᚋᚒᚄᚐ᚜ ᚛ᚑᚋᚁᚐᚂᚂᚔᚅᚐᚌᚉᚏᚐᚅᚔᚁᚆ᚜
- :fa an lig so na lu ata mari ni dhimusa / o mballi na gcranibh
- :"Beneath this stone lieth Mári Ní Dhíomasaigh from Ballycranna"
Manuscript tradition
- Latin text written in Ogham, in the Annals of Inisfallen of 1193 (ms. Rawlinson B. 503, 40c)
- :᚛ ᚅᚒᚋᚒᚄ ᚆᚑᚅᚑᚏᚐᚈᚒᚏ ᚄᚔᚅᚓ᚜ ᚛ᚅᚒᚋᚑ ᚅᚒᚂᚂᚒᚄ ᚐᚋᚐᚈᚒᚏ᚜
- :numus honoratur sine / numo nullus amatur
- :"Money is honoured, without money nobody is loved"
- Fictional inscription: a Middle Irish saga text recorded in the Book of Leinster (LL 66 AB) mentions the following Ogham inscription:
- Gip e tised in faidche, dia m-ba gascedach, geis fair ar thecht dind faidchi cen chomrac n-oenfhir do fhuacra.
- "whoever comes to this meadow, if he be armed, he is forbidden to leave the meadow, without requesting single combat."
Literature
- Brash, R. R., The Ogam Inscribed Monuments of the Gaedhil in the British Isles, London (1879).
- J. Higgitt, K. Forsyth, D. Parsons (eds.), Roman, Runes and Ogham. Medieval Inscriptions in the Insular World and on the Continent, Donington: Shaun Tyas (2001).
- Jackson, K.H., Notes on the Ogam inscriptions of southern Britain, in C. Fox, B. Dickins (eds.) The Early Cultures of North-West Europe. Cambridge: 197--213 (1950).
- Macalister, R. A. S., Corpus Inscriptionum Insularum Celticarum Vol. I., Dublin: Stationery Office (1945).
- Macalister, R. A. S., Corpus Inscriptionum Insularum Celticarum' Vol. II., Dublin: Stationery Office (1949).
- Ziegler, S., Die Sprache der altirischen Ogam-Inschriften, Gottingen: Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht (1994).
External links
- [Celtic Inscribed Stones Project]
- [TITUS Ogamica]
- [Corpus of Ogham Inscriptions]
- [Pictish Ogham Inscriptions]
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