The Ogham (pronounced "Oh-yam") is a
Celtic writing system.
According to the medieval "Book of Ballymote" it was invented by by Ogma Sun-Face, son of Breas who "raised four pillars of equal length" on whose faces the ogham was etched.
It comprises three sets of five consonants and one set of five vowels, totalling twenty ogham.
The Ogham "alphabet" follows; each ogham (letter) is associated with a species of tree which is listed.
The ogham can either be used vertically or horizontally; for convenience the horizontal form is used here. When using the ogham vertically, rotate clockwise, (ie:above becomes right).
The -xx-'s represent the engravings for the letters. Each 'x' is a cut made either above (-'-), below (-,-), diagonally through (-/-) or vertically (-|-) through a central line.
---,--- B Beth Birch
---,,-- L Luis Rowan
--,,,-- F Fearn Alder
--,,,,- S Saille Willow
-,,,,,- N Nion Ash
---'--- H Huath Hawthorn
---''-- D Duir Oak
--'''-- T Tinne Holly
--''''- C Coll Hazel
-'''''- Q Quert Apple
---/--- M Muin Vine
---//-- G Gort Ivy
--///-- NG Ngetal Reed
--////- Z Straif Blackthorn
-/////- R Ruis Elder
---|--- A Ailm Silver Fir
---||-- O Onn Gorse
--|||-- U Ura Heather
--||||- E Eadha Poplar
-|||||- I Idho Yew