About this Piece
'Áthas' is the Gaelic word for 'joy', which is sculpted in sterling silver, in ancient Ogham writing - the secret writing of the Celts.
18" sterling silver chain included.
Pendant is approx. 5cm long.
Comes boxed and gift wrapped with an information card on Ogham writing.
The perfect gift for a friend!
History of Ogham
Ogham (pronounced 'ohm') was the earliest form of writing in Ireland, existing from the 4th-9th centuries AD. Typically etched into stone or wood, it consists of a series of strokes along a line, where the strokes' quantity, length, and direction determine the letter. Most of the letters correspond to the Roman alphabet, with a few local additions, so in fact it's a translatable cypher rather than a language, read from the bottom-left upwards.
Some historians believe it may have been used as a secret alphabet that Roman Britain wouldn't be able to understand, while others suggest it may have been developed by early Christian communities as a form of shorthand. Most surviving examples are found on stone monuments in southern Ireland, though there are also some inscriptions in the west of Britain too, particularly in Wales.
