Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Ossian
Ossian was the supposed writer of a cycle of Scots Gaelic poems forged by James Macpherson. He was based on Oisín, poet of the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology.
In 1760 Macpherson, a Scots poet, claimed to have found poetry written by Ossian. He published translations of it during the next few years. The poems achieved international success and were proclaimed as a Celtic equivalent of the Classical writers such as Homer. Many writers were influenced by the works, including the young Walter Scott. However it became clear after a few years that his claims were false and the poems were condemned as forgeries - albeit forgeries of some artistic merit. The most famous of these poems was Fingal written in 1762.
Ossian is a town in Livingston County, New York
Ossian is a Hungarian heavy metal band.
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