deity · mythological cycle

Ogma

OG-mah

God of eloquence and champion of the Tuatha Dé Danann, traditionally credited with inventing the Ogham alphabet.

Ogma ("sun-faced," by one reading of his name) is the Tuatha Dé Danann's god of eloquence and physical strength, often described as a brother of the Dagda. Medieval Irish tradition credits him with inventing Ogham, the earliest known Irish writing system, carved in strokes along the edges of standing stones. He fights at the Second Battle of Moytura alongside Lugh and the Dagda, and in some accounts is given the task of dividing the spoils after the Tuatha Dé Danann's victory over the Fomorians — a role fitting a god whose power lies in words and judgment as much as the sword.

As a name: Ogma is still given to children today. See its meaning, pronunciation and popularity on NameCipher →

Connections

appears in Cath Maige Tuired (The Battle of Moytura)
ally The Dagda Traditionally counted as the Dagda's brother, and fights beside him at the Second Battle of Moytura.
enemy The Fomorians

The Four Cycles of Irish mythology
Cycle	Entries here	Focus
The Mythological Cycle	17	The oldest of the four cycles, telling of the Tuatha Dé Danann and the successive invasions of Ireland.
The Fenian Cycle	6	Tales of Fionn mac Cumhaill and his band of warriors, the Fianna, set generations after the Ulster Cycle in a world of hunting, romance, and roaming adventure.
The Ulster Cycle	12	The heroic tales of Conchobar mac Nessa's court at Emain Macha, centered on Cú Chulainn and the great cattle raid of the Táin Bó Cúailnge.
The Historical Cycle	1	Also the Cycle of the Kings — legendary and semi-legendary tales of Ireland's High Kings, treated by medieval scribes as genuine national history.

Sources

Cath Maige Tuired (The Battle of Moytura)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Ogma?

Ogma is a Tuatha Dé Danann god associated with eloquence, poetry, and physical strength, often credited by later medieval tradition as the inventor of Ogham, the ancient Irish alphabet carved in strokes along the edges of standing stones.

What is Ogma's connection to Ogham script?

Later medieval tradition credits Ogma with inventing Ogham as a secret writing system for scholars, linking the god's gift of eloquence directly to Ireland's earliest known form of writing.

Is Ogma related to the Gaulish god Ogmios?

Many scholars see a connection between Ogma and Ogmios, a Gaulish god of eloquence and binding described by the classical writer Lucian, suggesting a shared Celtic root behind both figures.