Archaeologia Cambrensis, 1873-07-01, p.286

Archaeologia Cambrensis, London, 1873-07-01, p.286

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articleThe article as printed
From INSCRIBED STONES OF WALES.

Page overview

A single page (p. 286) from the journal Archaeologia Cambrensis, under the running section head CORRESPONDENCE. The page is dense scholarly prose in a single column of small type, forming part of an ongoing antiquarian correspondence debate over the linguistic and ethnic origin of Ogham and Latin inscriptions found on Welsh monuments. The contributor, an Irish antiquarian, argues against the interpretations of Mr. Rhys, citing specific inscribed stones in West Cork and Wales — including the Ballycrovane stone and the Clydai monument — to press the claim that the names and formulae are Irish rather than Welsh. The tone is polemical but scholarly, with quotations from Ogham texts rendered in small capitals.

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Headlines on this page

CORRESPONDENCE

Clippings pulled from this page

INSCRIBED STONES OF WALES.
1873-07-01
leadcenter (single column) · page begins mid-letter; the Ballycrovane reference appears in the upper third of the column, the dominant item on the page

Juxtapositions

The contributor's pointed assertion that Mr. Rhys is distorting the Clydai inscription through 'a strong national prejudice' sits within the same continuous paragraph as a gracious acknowledgement that Rhys has 'laboured very learnedly and very ingeniously' — the compliment and the rebuke cheek by jowl.

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286 CORRESPONDENCE. ## Column 1 Senan, Senchan, Senog, Senach. Such forms as Finn Magawly and Seanach Magawly are frequent. Respecting the inscription at Peurhos [sic] Llugwy, Mr. Rhys states that “he” (Mr. Brash) “tries to show that it commemorates a person belonging to the Gaedhelic race.” I have not tried to prove that which is apparent to every person conversant with the Irish language. I have simply called attention to the form of the name in this inscription, which is purely Gaedhelic; and I have given examples, from Irish sources, both of the formula and name. I will now give Mr. Rhys another in addition to those already quoted, and which I have identified since my last communication. It is to be seen on an Ogham-inscribed stone standing 17 feet 6 inches above ground, at Ballycrovane Bay, in the extreme south-west of the county of Cork, and which commences with MACUI DECCEDDA. I would again remark that the old Irish used *t* and *d* indifferently and commutably; and also that they used the genitive in *-i* as well as in *-a*, particularly in Ogham inscriptions. Mr. Rhys has laboured very learnedly and very ingeniously to torture this inscription into that which it is not, moved evidently by a strong national prejudice, which should have nothing to do with antiquarian research. I, as an Irishman, recognise on Welsh soil a name and a formula that at a glance I know to be Irish; and finding from ancient Welsh authorities, as well as from topographical names, that my countrymen were once in possession of the very district in which such was found, what other conclusion could I come to ? Were I to find on the shores of Wexford or Waterford a sepulchral inscription to *Griffith ap Owen*, I should be fully as justified in claiming it to be Irish as Mr. Rhys is in claiming *Maccui Decetti* to be Welsh. Respecting the inscribed monument at Clydai there can be no question that it was bilingual. I have carefully examined it, and find that a portion of the head of the stone has been knocked off, as it once did duty as the pedestal of a sun-dial, the stumps of the four iron pins which secured the plate being still in the top. The Ogham inscription has, therefore, been injured, and a portion of it lost. What remains reads as follows: on the top left hand angle, ETTERN ; the N is close to the present top of the stone. On the opposite angle, reading from the top downwards, TOR, the T being close to the top. It is here evident that the inscription commenced on the left angle, reading upwards, continued round the head and down the opposite angle ; the entire reading ETTERNI MACUI FECTOR. The Latin inscription reads from the top downward, on the face of the stone, ETERNI FILI VICTOR. As I have before remarked, the Irish used *mh* and *f* instead of *v*, the patronymic must have read either FICTOR or FECTOR. I incline to the latter form, Fec being a common prefix to Irish names, as Fechin, Fecthach, Fechna; and Tor signifies a “head, chief, or sovereign prince”, and is used both as a prefix and suffix, as Torbach, Torpan, Toranan. I have also examined and copied the Lougher Stone. The inscription is much damaged. Only two letters are determinable, IC.

Peripheral items I've noted

286 CORRESPONDENCE.
Running head at the top of the page: page number 286 and the section title; the page is a single column of text.
- masthead
Senemagli.— (continued from page 285)
Catalogued as clipping 1873-07-01_archaeologia-cambrensis_ballyrovane-ogham-stone; the first two lines of the page end the Senemagli section begun on page 285 (Senan, Senchan, Senog, Senach; Finn Magawly and Seanach Magawly).
- clipping
- irish_history
Respecting the inscription at Peurhos Llugwy
Catalogued as clipping 1873-07-01_archaeologia-cambrensis_ballyrovane-ogham-stone; a paragraph of the same letter (upper half of the page) answering Mr. Rhys and Mr. Brash on the Peurhos (so printed) Llugwy stone and citing an Ogham-inscribed stone standing 17 feet 6 inches above ground at Ballycrovane Bay, in the extreme south-west of the county of Cork, which begins MACUI DECCEDDA; transcribed in the report as an independent read of the Beara passage.
- clipping
- irish_history
- transcribed
Respecting the inscribed monument at Clydai
Catalogued as clipping 1873-07-01_archaeologia-cambrensis_ballyrovane-ogham-stone; a paragraph (lower middle of the page) on the bilingual Clydai stone, once the pedestal of a sun-dial: Ogham ETTERNI MACUI FECTOR, Latin ETERNI FILI VICTOR, with Fec and Tor as Irish name elements (Fechin, Fecthach, Fechna; Torbach, Torpan, Toranan).
- clipping
- irish_history
I have also examined and copied the Lougher Stone.
Catalogued as clipping 1873-07-01_archaeologia-cambrensis_ballyrovane-ogham-stone; the last two lines of the page say the Lougher Stone inscription is much damaged, with only the letters IC determinable, and the letter runs on overleaf.
- clipping