Old pagan writing system, also known as pre-Christian writing system or ancient pagan writing system, refers to the writing systems used by various pagan cultures before the spread of Christianity. These writing systems were highly diverse and varied in form and structure, reflecting the cultural and linguistic diversity of the pagan civilizations. One of the most famous ancient pagan writing systems is the runic alphabet, which was used by the Germanic peoples, including the Norse, Anglo-Saxons, and Vikings. The runic alphabet consisted of a series of angular characters known as runes, which were often carved onto stones or wood. Each rune had both a phonetic sound and a symbolic meaning, allowing for both writing and mystical communication. In addition to the runic alphabet, there were several other writing systems used by different pagan cultures.
The purpose of using an unfamiliar alphabet is to abstract it from the writer's native language. This causes the writer to concentrate more fully upon the inscription and the greater task at hand. Because of this, the Theban alphabet is mostly employed in the makings of talismans and other ritual work. Some use it in their Book of Shadows as a code so no one else can read it - another throwback to the Burning Times myth.
This is assumed to be reference to the author of Liber Juratus, or the Sworne Booke of Honorius , yet the letters never appear in the the Liber Juratus. The Theban alphabets can be found in many traditional Wiccan texts today, sometimes called Witch Letters , used for carving, writing names, and the entire books of shadows.
In addition to the runic alphabet, there were several other writing systems used by different pagan cultures. The Ogham script, for example, was used by the ancient Celts in Ireland and Britain. It consisted of a series of horizontal or diagonal lines carved onto stone or wood.
Old pagan writing system
The Theban Alphabet
also known as the Witches Alphabet or the Runes of Honorius
Calling this alphabet runic is erroneous - runes are straight-edged - and there's no evidence of this system being associated with witches before the 20th century.
How old it really is is unknown. It is first mentioned in Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy published in Antwerp in 1531, attributing them to one "Honorius of Thebes." This is assumed to be reference to the author of Liber Juratus, or the Sworne Booke of Honorius, yet the letters never appear in the the Liber Juratus. If the alphabet is his, it apparently appeared in a work that no longer exists. (The better-known Grimoire of Honorius is a 17th-century forgery)
The character for "W" shown below is not part of the original alphabet. Indeed, the absence of unique characters for "J", "U" and "W" indicate a possible connection with the pre-11th century Latin alphabet, as those letters are much younger than the rest of our alphabet.
It is certainly an invented alphabet such as an alchemical cipher. The flourishes it boasts are not practical to writing and should have naturally eroded away. The letter for "K" for example, is almost impossible to write left to right with a single pen stroke.
The Golden Dawn and its successor orders such as the Ordo Templi Orientalis adopted the alphabet in the 19th century, and this appears to be Gerald Gardner's source. Garderians use this alphabet frequently. It is more rare among the other Traditions. 1
The purpose of using an unfamiliar alphabet is to abstract it from the writer's native language. This causes the writer to concentrate more fully upon the inscription and the greater task at hand. Because of this, the Theban alphabet is mostly employed in the makings of talismans and other ritual work. Some use it in their Book of Shadows as a code so no one else can read it - another throwback to the Burning Times myth.
Like the runic alphabet, each Ogham character represented both a sound and a symbolic meaning. The ancient Egyptians, who practiced a form of paganism before the rise of monotheism, used hieroglyphics as their writing system. Hieroglyphics consisted of a complex series of pictorial symbols, representing not only sounds and words but also concepts and ideas. This writing system was primarily used by the ruling class and the priesthood, and was often inscribed onto the walls of temples and tombs. Another pagan writing system was the ancient Mayan script, used by the indigenous civilizations of mesoamerica. The Mayan script consisted of a combination of logograms, which represented entire words or concepts, and phonetic glyphs, which represented individual sounds. This writing system was highly sophisticated and was used for recording historical events, religious rituals, and astronomical observations. Overall, the ancient pagan writing systems were complex and diverse, reflecting the rich cultural and linguistic traditions of the pagan civilizations. Despite the spread of Christianity and the eventual decline of paganism, these writing systems have left a lasting legacy in the form of ancient texts and inscriptions, providing valuable insights into the beliefs and practices of these ancient cultures..
Reviews for "The Sacred Scripts: Exploring the Spiritual Connection of Old Pagan Writing Systems"
1. Emily - 1/5 stars - This book was completely incomprehensible. The writing system described was overly complex and did not make any sense to me. I found it frustrating trying to decipher the symbols and understand the meaning behind them. It felt like reading an entirely different language. I would not recommend this book to anyone unless they are already familiar with the pagan writing system and have a lot of patience.
2. David - 2/5 stars - As someone with little knowledge of pagan writing systems, I found this book to be extremely difficult to follow. The explanations were unclear and lacking in examples. There was a lack of context provided, which made it hard to understand the significance of the symbols and their interpretations. The author could have done a better job at making the information more accessible to newcomers. It was a disappointing read for me.
3. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I was expecting to learn about the old pagan writing system and gain a deeper understanding of its origins and usage. However, this book failed to deliver on those expectations. The descriptions were vague and the examples provided were not helpful in grasping the concepts. The lack of a structured approach made it feel like a jumbled mess. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking to learn about the old pagan writing system.