The Arrays (and the presumed Theonym

TIEU) of the Ogham Signary

Joannes Richter

linguals palatals gutturals labials dentals

5 NG
4 T I Ε U
3 D G O M R
2 N Q A F Z
1 L C H B S
Table 1 Displaying the theonym TIΕU in the Ogham signary (for the standard order)

Abstract
The architecture of the ogham signary is based on the ordering mechanism for the “feda” (ogham
runes, singular “fid”) in the 4 original aicmí.
In the ogham signaries the ordering mechanism is equivalent to the mechanisms to display a sky-
god's name in the Ugaritic, Phoenician, Greek, Latin and the Futharc runic alphabets, which were
designed to display a theonym in the 5 colums of the 2-dimensional categorized array-structure.
Three of the 4 arrays of the ogham signaries display a typical PIE-theonym “TIΕU” in the 4th row of
the ogham signary. Only the medieval order displays a theonym “NgIΕM” in the 4th row of the
signary. The mechanism of the typical PIE-theonym “TIΕU” in the 4th row of the ogham signary
may be explained.
This essay will be integrated in the overview How to Read the Theonym „TIWÆS“ in the Runic
“Futhark Signary" .
The ogham signaries

Boundary conditions

The definition of the categorization

The definition of the categorization is synchronized with the standard Latin letters: as linguals: D, Þ
L, N, T, palatals: C, G, I, J, K, Q, X , the gutturals: A, Ε, H, O, Y, labials: B, ϝ1 - V, M, P, U, W and the
dentals: Z, S, R.

The theonyms to be searched

For several reasons the analysis of the ogham alphabets is more complicated than the Futhark
signaries and the standard alphabets. One of the problems is the sequence of the categorized
symbols in the signary and their exact categorizing definition (labial, gutteral, palatl lingual, dental).
One of the reasons is the undetermined sky-god's name, which may be expected as a display. We
may expect one of the gods: BELENUS, LUG, TEUTATES, ESUS, TARANIS or OGHAM. To be
honest: I expected a typically Celtic name and never thought of a PIE-name like DYAUS or TIVAR.
The most promising Celtic names would be:
• Three Celtic gods are mentioned in Pharsalia by Lucan which names Teutates, Esus, and
Taranis. The root of the name Teutates is *teutā “nation, tribe,” suggesting that he was the
sacred patron of the interests and concerns of the nation. His name occurs as an epithet in
connection with Roman gods on several inscriptions: one with Apollo, three with Jupiter,
two with Mars, and two with Mercury.
• In epigraphy, the forms Belenus, Belinus and Bellenus are on record. Other variants may be
corruptions of the same name; thus, a single inscription found near Oulx has Belanus,[8] and
Herodian has Belin.[9] The etymology of the name is unclear.
• Consider the distribution of the following ethnonyms based on the element lug. Do these
confirm a pan-Celtic cult to the god Lug2, or are there other ways to interpret the evidence?
• Lugii in east-central Europe
• Lugi in north-eastern Scotland
• Lougei and Luggoni in north-west Spain
• Luigni in Meath and Sligo, Ireland

1 Digamma (ϝ) - an archaic letter of the Greek alphabet , may be exchanged by /W/, /F/, /U/, /V/
2 Exploring Celtic Civilizations (chapter Lug: A Pan-Celtic Deity? ) - (https://exploringcelticciv.web.unc.edu/divine-
beings/)
The definition of the letters in the ogham signaries
In a paper3 I found 3 chronological orders, as compiled by J. Monard, of the most probable series:
(1) the Goidelic order, (2) the Pictish order and (3) the Medieval order.
These orders given by Mr Monard rely very much on linguistic evidence and details found the Book of
Ballymote (dated: 1390 or 1391). Other sources however, give different orders altogether. The most
remarkable of these being from the oral tradition of Ireland as reported by Roderick O'Flaherty, the Irish
bard in his book Ogygia. He claimed that his information came from Duald MacFirbis, the clan bard of
the O'Briens.

Only the initial 20 symbols will be inserted into the alphabetical array with 5 categories.

3 Source : Proto-Ogham (2008) - Michel-Gérald Boutet, iconographer, Laval, Québec, Canada

The standard order and local orders
There is a standard order4 (defined in Wikipedia), local orders (Goidelic and Pictish) and
chronological orders such as the medieval order. I decided to investigate the following 4 orders:
Aicme Beithe Aicme hÚatha Aicme Muine Aicme Ailme
Goidelic order B L N F/V S H D T C Q M G NG SS R A O U Ε I
Pictish order B L V S N H D T K KH M G NG ST R A O U Ε I
Medieval order B L F S V H D T K Q M G NG DD R A O U Ε I
Standard order B L F S N H D T C Q M G NG Z R A O U Ε I
Table 2 3 chronological orders (from Proto-Ogham (2008) and the “standard order”.
Ogham letters (from Wikipedia)
Aicme Beithe Aicme Muine
ᚁ [b] Beith ᚋ [m] Muin
ᚂ [l] Luis ᚌ [ɡ] Gort
ᚃ [w] Fearn ᚍ [ɡʷ] nGéadal
ᚄ [s] Sail ᚎ [st], [ts], [sw] Straif
ᚅ [n] Nion ᚏ [r] Ruis
Aicme hÚatha Aicme Ailme
ᚆ [j] Uath ᚐ [a] Ailm
ᚇ [d] Dair ᚑ [o] Onn
ᚈ [t] Tinne ᚒ [u] Úr
ᚉ [k] Coll ᚓ [e] Eadhadh
ᚊ [kʷ] Ceirt ᚔ [i] Iodhadh
Forfeda (rare, sounds uncertain)
ᚕ [k], [x], [eo] Éabhadh
ᚖ [oi] Ór
ᚗ [ui] Uilleann
ᚘ [p], [io] Ifín ᚚ [p] Peith
ᚙ [x], [ai] Eamhancholl vte

Table 3 Ogham letters (from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogham)

Notes:
Uath, Old Irish Úath, hÚath (Old Irish pronunciation: [wəθ]), is the sixth letter of the Ogham alphabet, ᚆ,
transcribed ⟨ʜ⟩ in manuscript tradition, but unattested in actual inscriptions. The definition of H or J seems to be
irrelevant.
The fact that the order of the letters is in fact BLFSN led the scholar Macalister to propose that the letter order
was originally BLNFS. This was to fit into his own theories which linked the Beith-luis-nin to a form of the
Greek alphabet current in Northern Italy in the 6th and 5th centuries BC. However, there is no evidence for
Macalister's theories, and they have since been discounted by later scholars. There are in fact other
explanations for the name Beith-luis-nin.
One explanation is that the word nin which literally means 'a forked branch' was also regularly used to mean a
written letter in general. Beith-luis-nin could therefore mean simply 'Beith-luis letters'. The other explanation is
that Beith-luis-nin is a convenient contraction of the first five letters thus: Beith-LVS-nin.[26] 5

4 From www.ancientscripts.com/ogham.html
5 Source: Theories of origin (Ogham)
The various arrays of the ogham signaries
Three of the 4 arrays of the ogham signaries display a typical PIE-theonym “TIΕU” in the 4th row of
the signary. Only the medieval order displays a theonym “NgIΕM” in the 4th row of the signary.

The array for the Goidelic order

1- the chronological Goidelic order; B, L, N, F/V, S, H, D, T, C, Q, M, G, NG, SS , R, A, O, U, Ε, I,
forfeda; CH, TH, P, Ph, X-SK, and/or EA, OI, UI, IA, AE.
linguals palatals gutturals labials dentals
5 NG
4 T I Ε U
3 D G O M R
2 N Q A F/V SS
1 L C H B S
Table 4 Displaying the theonym TIΕU in the Ogham signary (for the Goidelic order)

The Pictish order

2- Pictish order; B, L, V, S, N, H, D, T, K, KH, M, G, NG, ST, R, A, O, U, Ε, I,
Forfeda; P, and D, RR, and/or OI, UI, IA, OE, and O-HO, MA. 36

linguals palatals gutturals labials dentals

5 NG
4 T I Ε U
3 D G O M R
2 N KH A V ST
1 L K H B S
Table 5 Displaying the theonym TIΕU in the Ogham signary (for the Pictish order)

The Medieval order

3- Medieval order; B, L, F, S, V, H, D, T, K, Q, M, G, NG, DD, R, A, O, U, Ε, I,
forfeda; EA, OI, UI, IA, AE.
linguals palatals gutturals labials dentals
5 DD U
4 NG I Ε M
3 T G O V
2 D Q A F R
1 L K H B S
Table 6 Displaying the theonym in the Ogham signary (for the Medieval order)
The standard order
4- the standard order; B, L, F, S, N, H, D, T, C, Q, M, G, NG, Z, R, A, O, U, Ε, I,
forfeda; EA, OI, UI, IA, AE. P,...6

linguals palatals gutturals labials dentals

5 NG
4 T I Ε U
3 D G O M R
2 N Q A F Z
1 L C H B S
Table 7 Displaying the theonym TIΕU in the Ogham signary (for the standard order)

The displays for the 4 aicmi

Furthermore, when one combines the letter symbols in each five set of fews, one gets hidden
meanings similar the ones hinted at by the ancient Irish poets.
• Down strokes: B-L-N-U(W)-S : Belenus < Belenos, the Sun God.
• Up strokes: SC-D-T-C-Q: Scud < scudos = “shield” Tecq < tecoscii = “of the doctor of knowledge”;
ditaca = “smoke”
• Slanted cross strokes: M-G-‘N- Ð-R: Magon ðir < magunos ðiras = boy servant of stars.
• Straight cross strokes: A-O-U-E-I: auello / auilla = “willingness”; auelo = “air stream” 7.

6 online source : www.ancientscripts.com/ogham.html

7 Source : (PDF) Proto-Ogham | Michel Gérald Boutet - Academia.edu
The missing dental letter in the Great Name
There seems to be an absent dental symbol (?) in the fourth row, which may be filled from the
forfeda. The missing letter should represent an S, Z or R to complete the 5-letter name of the sky-
god.
One of the candidates for this element is the forfid8 letter EA (Éabhadh), which is interpreted as [k],
[x], [eo]. The sounds are uncertain, but the [x] ends with an [s]. The X may be an archaic ending for
a plural form9.
This would complete the name TIΕU to the 5-letter word TIΕUᚕ or TIΕUX.
4- the standard order; B, L, F, S, N, H, D, T, C, Q, M, G, NG, Z, R, A, O, U, Ε, I,
forfeda; EA, OI, UI, IA, AE. P,...10

linguals palatals gutturals labials dentals

5 NG
4 T I Ε U (?) → ᚕ
3 D G O M R
2 N Q A F Z
1 L C H B S
Table 8 Displaying the theonym TIΕUᚕ or TIΕUX in the Ogham signary (for the standard order)

8 Based on the singular “fid” for “feda”

9 In French Dieux is the plural of Dieu.
10 online source : www.ancientscripts.com/ogham.html
The mechanism of the theonym in the Ogham signary
An analysis of the mechanism of the theonym in the Ogham signary may be explained in 3 steps:
• The exceptional behavior of the medieval order, which displays a theonym “NgIΕM” in the
4th row of the signary, is caused by the loss of the lingual letter N in the Aicme Beithe. This
removal is compensated by insertion of the letters DD in the Aicme Muine and V in the
Aicme Beithe.
• Basically the display of the theonym TIΕU in the Ogham signary is based on the
concentration of all vowels in the fourth Aicme (Aicme Ailme), which results in the
concentration of vowels IΕU in the fourth row of the Ogham array. The sequence of the
vowels in the Aicme Ailme does not really matter. The sequence of the letters IΕU is ruled by
the categories for the vowels palatal I, guttural Ε and labial U. Prior to the letters IΕU the
other two vowels A and O had been inserted in the Aicme Ailme.
• The T in the theonym TIΕU is already earlier fixed by locating this consonant in the center
of the Aicme hÚatha.
These steps rule the mechanisms of the theonym in the Ogham signary. The ogham alphabet
originally consisted of twenty distinct characters (feda), arranged in four series aicmí (plural of
aicme "family"; compare aett). Each aicme was named after its first character (Aicme Beithe, Aicme
hÚatha, Aicme Muine, Aicme Ailme, "the B Group", "the H Group", "the M Group", "the A Group").
Five additional letters were later introduced (mainly in the manuscript tradition), the so-called
forfeda.
The architecture of the ogham signary is based on the ordering mechanism for the feda in the 4
original aicmí. In the ogham signaries the ordering mechanism is equivalent to the mechanisms to
display a sky-god's name in the Ugaritic, Phoenician, Greek, Latin and the Futharc runic alphabets.
The name (“feda”) of the ogham characters may correlate:
• with the ancient Indian “Vedas” (“to wit”),
• with the initial runes “Futha” of the “Futhark”-signary,
• with the West-Slavic expression “vitha” for the runes. Runes were called vitha by the West
Slavs, which is a genetive of *vid or *vit meaning "image" or "side", "facet" (referring to the
multifaceted essence of the supreme God).[164] 11

11 Woda in Germanic deities and others

Conclusion
The architecture of the ogham signary is based on the ordering mechanism for the “feda” (ogham
runes) in the 4 original aicmí.
In the ogham signaries the ordering mechanism is equivalent to the mechanisms to display a sky-
god's name in the Ugaritic, Phoenician, Greek, Latin and the Futharc runic alphabets, which were
designed to display a theonym in the 5 colums of the 2-dimensional categorized array-structure.
Three of the 4 arrays of the ogham signaries display a typical PIE-theonym “TIΕU” in the 4th row of
the ogham signary. Only the medieval order displays a theonym “NgIΕM” in the 4th row of the
signary. The mechanism of the typical PIE-theonym “TIΕU” in the 4th row of the ogham signary
may be explained.
This essay will be integrated in the overview How to Read the Theonym „TIWÆS“ in the Runic
“Futhark Signary" .
Contents
Abstract.................................................................................................................................................1
The ogham signaries ............................................................................................................................2
Boundary conditions........................................................................................................................2
The definition of the categorization............................................................................................2
The theonyms to be searched......................................................................................................2
The definition of the letters in the ogham signaries....................................................................3
The standard order and local orders............................................................................................4
The various arrays of the ogham signaries......................................................................................5
The array for the Goidelic order..................................................................................................5
The Pictish order.........................................................................................................................5
The Medieval order.....................................................................................................................5
The standard order......................................................................................................................6
The displays for the 4 aicmi .....................................................................................................6
The missing dental letter in the Great Name...................................................................................7
The mechanism of the theonym in the Ogham signary...................................................................8
Conclusion............................................................................................................................................9