Yesterday we visited the Archaeological wing of the National Museum of Ireland. One of the main attractions of this museum is the Tara Brooch. According to Lonely Planet the Tara Brooch, “was crafted around AD700, primarily with white bronze, but with traces of gold, silver, glass, copper, enamel and wire beading, and was used as a clasp for a cloak” (80). It really is a sight to behold. What really struck me, though, was a display alongside the Tara Brooch that discussed this style of brooch and how they were made and designed. The display also showed that often the name of the brooch’s owner was etched into the back. The written language used in Ireland around this time was called Ogham. “It is a system of linear symbols cut on either side of, or across, a baseline” (display in the museum). What’s surprising, though, is that it’s ugly! These brooches are so beautiful; they are intricately and painstakingly made, and then on the back, they scratched a name into it! Because Ogham works using lines, the name literally looks like scratches. It is in such contrast to the delicate artistry of the rest of the brooch.
This caused me to think about our written language now. When we talk about the written word being beautiful, we are usually talking the content or perhaps the sound. Rarely do we mean the visual aesthetic of the writing. Is our language beautiful? Is it any better aesthetically than Ogham? I would argue yes, but then again I am probably biased.
Two years ago, on a visit to Brussels, I was able to view an original Gutenberg Bible. To me, it is beautiful. I can’t read it, so I am not drawn to the content. And no one read it aloud, so it wasn’t the sound. I may have been swayed by its historical significance, especially to me as an avid reader. But all of that aside, I do actually think that the text itself was beautiful. I have included a photo so that you can judge for yourself.
Above: Tara Brooch
Below: Inscription in Ogham on similar brooch
Left: Stone with Ogham engraving
Right: Close-up of Gutenberg Bible