________________
530
THE ALPHABET
Shetland Islands, and one of the same type, from the Isle of Man (Fig. 238, 2). They are written in another oghamic variety, which was styled by Ferguson "scholastic oghams," and is now generally termed "Pictish oghams," these inscriptions being attributed to the ancient Picts.
The Picts
The term "Picts," from Latin Picti, "painted," is considered by some scholars as applied to an otherwise unknown indigenous name. The Celtic-Irish term for "Picts" was Cruithen, Cruithri, Cruitnech; Cruithentuath being the term for the country of the Picts." The Welsh term was Prydyn, Prydain, Prythein.
- DODO Dm za
Zwono0oC ua w
Fig. 238—Pictish oghams (the inscriptions are read upwards)
Some scholars consider all these Celtic terms as connected with the Celtic words
ruth, pryd, meaning "shape, external appearance"; they also hold that the Roman term Picti might have been a translation or interpretation of the Celtic name.
