Ogma

Ogma

The Celtic Warrior of the Tongue

NAME: Ogma, Ogmios (Gaulish). Nicknames Cermait (Honey-Mouthed), Grianainech (Sunny-Faced)

SYMBOLS: Chains of gold and amber leading from his tongue to the ears of his followers. A large wooden club.

USUAL IMAGE: For the Gauls he was shown as a old bald man greatly wrinkled and deeply browned by the sun. In Ireland he is shown as large muscular man carrying a club.

RELATIVES: Dagda (father), Boann (mother, though some accounts say this was Brigit), Etin (wife), Diancecht (father-in-law), Tuirewn, Cairpe, MacCuil, MacCecht, MacGreine (sons).

SYNODEITIES: Hermes (Greek), Mercury (Roman), Hercules (Roman), Thoth (Egyptian), Vac (Hindu), Vagisvara (Buddhist), Sherlock Holmes (Pop Culture)

Details:

Like many Celtic Gods and Goddesses Ogma, or as he was known among the Gauls Ogmios, is a bit of an enigma.

There is the possibility that not all the stories related to Ogma are really about the same entity. It is possible that they are different characters sharing the same or similar names, it's been known to happen before.

However it's fairly safe to say that Ogma was the God of eloquence for the Celts. It is also interesting to note that he was the `strong-man' of the Tuatha de Danann.

The most famous account of this diety comes from the Greek Lucian of Samosata writing in the 2nd century AD. He tells us that the Gauls considered Ogmios to be the god of speech whom they associated not with Hermes but with Hercules. He was said to lead his followers around by chains of gold and amber that lead from his tongue to their ears.

Lucain it seemed found the image a bit shocking, not understanding why these people seemed to be happy to be lead in such a way. Apparently the Greek was not up on his metaphors, missing that this was a way of showing that a person with the power of speech could more easily lead others to obey him and have them do so with a smile.

As for the Celts of Ireland Ogma was both a strong man and someone known for his "honeyed tongue." The son of Boann (or Brigit) and Dagda he used both in their battles against the fearsome Fomor. At one point in his mythic carrier he fell on hard times and was forced to serve as a meer wood gatherer. However he payed them back in the final great battle with the Fomor by killing one of their greatest chiefs.

It is also thought that Ogma played an important part in magic spells of the Celts, as lead plates bearing curses invoke his name to bring down the curse on their foe.

Most importantly of all it is said that Ogma invented the ogham (pronounced OH-ahm) letters.

It is said that in the end Ogma along with the rest of the Tuatha de Danann went to live underground where he made his home in a sidh called Airceltrai.

But what can we say about a God who is both noted for great strength, eloquence and inventing a form of writing? I would say that it is a very Celtic sort of God. And would not be against saying that perhaps while he may be a bit obscure his followers can be found down the ages among the large number of brilliant Irish, Scottish and by extension Southern writers, and poets of Celtic ancestry.

- Terry McCombs