Professor Kenneth Jackson points out that there are no texts extant in a “Pictish language,” but that both the Latin king-lists and place-names are unquestionably Celtic: moreover, they are P-Celtic (i.e., Brythonic). However, within a few centuries after the Roman period, a switch to Goidelic (Gaelic) language had been made. The king-lists of the Picts actually show both Goidelic and Brythonic forms, but Joseph Loth and Kuno Myer have pointed to the predominance of Brythonic names. There is an intriguing reference to eighth century Pictish literacy in chronicles that cite quotations in veterimus Pictorium libris (in old books of the Picts). By this period the Picts would have been fully absorbed into a Gaelic culture. The Annals of Ulster record Picts living in the midlands of Ireland as late as a.d. 809.

A Pictish warrior named Cruithne is said to have settled in Alba with his seven children and divided the country between them: hence Tuatha Cruithne. Cat ruled Caithness, then came Cé (Marr and Buchan), Círech (Angus and Mearns), Fiobh (Fife), Moireabh (Moray), Fótla (Ath-fhótla = Atholl), and Fortriu (Strathearn).

Pigs

Pigs have a special place in Celtic myth and are magical animals with certain properties of enchantment. The pigskin of Tuis, which the sons of Tuireann were asked to bring back to Ireland, cured all wounds and sickness and, if dipped into a stream, would turn the water into wine for three days. The seven pigs of Easal of the Golden Pillars provided an inexhaustible feast—if eaten on one night, they would appear the next day ready to be slaughtered for another feast. Pigs were highly prized. Gwydion was successful in stealing Pryderi’s pigs, but Arthur was unable to capture the swine of March ap Meirchion. A Gaulish god, whom the Romans equated with Mercury, had the epithet Moccus (pig).

Plant Rhys Ddwfn

[W] A land supposedly lying off the coast of Dyfed, probably corrupted from Pant yr Is-ddwfn or Plant Rhi Is-dwfn—“The Children of (the King of) the Netherworld.” They were said to be an Otherworld people who had the power to make their country invisible except from one small patch of ground to be found in Dyfed.

Plur na mBan

[I] “The Flower of Women.” Daughter of Oisín and the goddess Niamh, daughter of Manannán Mac Lir.