Odin
aka 'Woden' in Anglo-Saxon. God of the Dead, and poetry, wisdom, agriculture and war in Norse mythology. Said to have drink at 'Mimir's Fountain' (See Mimir). Also revered as a master of the arcane and associated with the Sun, as he is said to have sacrificed one of his eyes to gain the knowledge form the fountain, leaving his remaining eye to represent the Sun.
Ogma
aka 'Warrior of the Tuatha de Danaan' (See Tuatha de Danaan). Son of 'Dagda' (See Dagda). Husband of 'Etain' (See Etain), father of 'Tuirenn'.
According to Irish legend he recovered the speaking sword of 'King Tethra'. Most well known for devising the 'Ogham' alphabet, based on inscriptions only as the writing of the island's history was prohibited by the Druids as this was learnt by heart and passed on by oral tradition.
Seen as similar to the Gaulish God 'Ogmios' (See Ogmios).
Ogmios
Of Celtic origin. Depicted bearing a whip with which he controls the Invisible Sun, revered as a Sun God. He is therefore associated with 'Apollo' (See Apollo), and is seen to be reflected in the character of 'Ogma'.
Ogygia
A place said to be in the far west where 'Cronos' (See Cronos), the father of time, lived, and where a hero would be sent to learn more about the sacred and arcane arts.
Oisin
aka 'Ossain'. Son of 'Fionn' (See Fionn) and 'Sadbh'. Father of 'Oscar' (See Oscar). It has been suggested that he lived during the third-century but this date is unsubstantiated.
Beloved of 'Niamh' (See Niamh), whom he lived with for three-hundred years in 'Tir Na n'Og' (See Tir Na n'Og). He knew that if he was to return to see his home (Ireland), that stepping upon the earth would age him immediately, but he still wanted to visit it. 'Niamh' (See Niamh) provided him with a horse for his journey but once there tragedy hit as his saddle slipped and the girth slackened. Osin could not stay on the horse and fell to the ground. Immediately the passage of the years away came to him, and there he died.
In Christian legend it is said that 'St Patrick' (See Mystical-WWW Mystical Time : Dates, 17 March) wanted to baptise him, and to obtain the history of the 'Fianna' (See Fianna).
Oisin and the Ossain oral language were the subject of a series of fictitious Gaelic romances by James MacPherson (AD1736-96).
Olwen
'White Track'. Daughter of 'Yspaddaden Pencawr', 'Yspaddaden The Giant' (See Yspaddaden). 'Culhwch' (See Culhwch) desired the love of Olwen according to legend, but her father set thirty-nine virtually impossible tasks, known as 'anoethu' for Culhwch to achieve before he could take her hand. He does not complete the tasks, nor does she help Culhwch achieve the tasks, but is still won for Olwen's hand. According to folklore, it was said that if she were to marry this would cause the death of her father. She gains a husband but loses her father.
Olyroun
Believed to be a Faery king in Arthurian romance legends, as the father of 'Tryamore' (See Tryamore).
Orainglais
'Sagremore' (See Sangremor) is said to have fathered a son with this Irish princess.
Orcus
'Hades' in Latin as written of by 'Edmund Spenser' (See Spenser) in the 'Faeire Queene, Book 6'.
Orguelleuse
This character is revealed in the legends of 'Parzival' (See Perceval) and 'Le Conte de Graal', described as a lady who considered herself to be superior but generally viewed as rather haughty lady. She was seen to be a strong advocate of what she viewed to be the best love, this being courtly love.
Orlando of Thessali
Husband of 'Melora' (See Melora), a quest Knight in the legend of The Visit of the Grey Ham.
Osiris
Ancient Egyptian God, associated with 'Horus', the resurrected Osiris (See Horus). He is the 'God of the not-dead' and the resurrection. Travels to Amenti, equivalent to Annwn (See Annwn). The mythology of Osiris and Horus, and his sisters is believed to be reflected in Arthurian legend. Father of Horus, son of 'Nut'.
Oscar
aka 'Osgar'. Son of 'Oisin'. Reputed in Irish legend to be a skilled diplomat and warrior of incredible bravery and strength. Killed by the 'High King of Ireland'. Oscar was said to have killed his opponent the same time.
He is associated with the 'Washer at the Ford' (See Washer at the Ford) having foreseen his own death.
Osla Big-Knife
According to Arthurian legend, Osla is one of the earliest people to declare himself to be an ally of Arthur. In the story of 'Culhwch (See Culhwch) and Olwen' (See Olwen) this is the knife, belonging to Osla, that is placed over the divide allowing 'Arthur' (See Arthur) to cross the river.
Otherworld
aka 'Tir Na n'Og' (See Tir Na n'Og), 'The Sidhe' (See Aes Sidhe), 'The Hollow Hills', 'Arthur's Bosom' (See Arthur's Bosom), 'The Summer Country' (See Summer Country). The Irish place known as The Sidhe was where the faery folk known as 'Aes Sidhe' (See Aes Sidhe) lived. Gaining entry to this world was said to be possible for mortals, but returning extremely unlikely. Should one desire to go then the entrances to their world were usually found on ancient burial sites or by prominent land marks and natural features such as wells and caves.
Owain
aka 'Urien', 'Yvain', 'Yvaine'. Believed to be an historical hero, son of 'Urien of Rheged' (See Urien) and 'Modron' (See Morgan le Fay) who is thought to be the same person as Morgan le Fay.
Owain is said to have fought with the northern Britons against the Angles. He is later associated with the story of 'Arthur' (See Arthur) and is indicated to be the hero of 'The Lady of the Fountain' (See Yvaine) and 'The Dream of Rhonabwy' in which he leads the group known as 'The Ravens' (See Raven) against Arthur's men whom he defeats (the ravens are not thought to represent a group of men but Otherworld (See Otherworld) women who appear at the battle in the form of this bird. Owain and Arthur play a board game which parallels the battle. The game is known as the 'Black Raven', 'Bran-dubh', believed to have been similar to 'Gwyddbwyll' or the 'Chessboard of Gwenddolau', one of the 'Thirteen Treasures of Britain' (See Hallows of Britain).
The Cistercian monk Henry of Saltrey is known to have written 'The Descent of Owain' in the twelfth-century, where Owain is portrayed as an Irish Knight of Stephen's Court, who was able to enter and pass through St. Patrick's purgatory (which is where he was sent as a penance for his wicked life). (See Mystical-WWW Mystical Time : Dates, 17 March for more information on Patrick).
Owain is known to have been the Guardian of the Magic Fountain in the 'Forest of Broceliande' (See Broceliande) for a short time after defeating the 'Black Knight' (See Black Knight) who had previously guarded it. He is believed in this romance legend to have been the second husband of the Lady of the Fountain after killing her first husband.
In later Grail legend romances Owain is described as the second husband of 'Laudine' (See Laudine) and opponent of 'Esclados' (See Esclados).
Owl
aka 'Corpse bird', 'Night-hag'. Considered to be a prophetic bird, sacred in many ancient cultures including the Celtic where it is associated with the Underworld. The owl is associated with being the bird of 'Gwynn ap Nudd' (See Gwynn ap NuddGwydion) is said to have transformed 'Blodeuwedd' (See Blodeuwedd) into an owl following her brutal betrayal and resulting murder of her husband. (See Mystical-WWW Mystic's Menagerie : Owl for more information on the owl).
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