Ogham (pronounced “OH-am”) is an early medieval alphabet used primarily to write the early Irish language (Old Irish). It consists of a series of lines, or notches, drawn perpendicular to or at an angle to a baseline.
The exact origins and development of Ogham are not well understood, but it is believed to have emerged in Ireland around the 4th century CE. Ogham inscriptions have been found throughout Ireland, as well as in Scotland, Wales, and Cornwall.
The Ogham alphabet consists of 20 letters, each represented by a different arrangement of notches on a central line or stem. The letters are named after trees or shrubs, and each letter is associated with a particular type of wood. For example, “B” is represented by one notch on the stem to the right of the centerline, and is associated with the Birch tree.
Ogham was primarily used for short inscriptions on stone monuments, typically names or epitaphs. The language used in these inscriptions is often difficult to interpret, as it is written in archaic forms of Irish and may include unusual spellings and abbreviations.
Today, Ogham is primarily of interest to scholars of early Irish history and linguistics, but it has also gained popularity as a decorative element in modern Celtic-inspired art and design.