Post by caridwen on Oct 2, 2014 0:38:21 GMT
The earliest known Runic inscriptions date from the 1st century AD and there is little known about their origins but the Elder Futhark is assumed to be the oldest.
There are several different types of Runic alphabet:
Elder Futhark
Gothic Runes
Anglo-Saxon Futhorc
Younger Futhark
Danish Futhark
Swedish-Norwegian / Short-twig / Rök Runes
Norwegian Futhark
Gothenburg / Bohuslän Runes
Medieval (Latinised) Futhark
Medieval
In ancient Norse, 'Rune' has several different meanings including: text; inscription and letter. It also means: mystery and secret. Runes are generally thought to have two purposes, one is literal the other is magical. The word Futhark is made up of the first six letters of the alphabet - Fehu (f) Uruz (u) Thurisaz (th) Ansuz (a) Raido ® Kaunaz (k).
The Elder Futhark (the Runes I'm concentrating on) is divided into three groups or Aetts. Aett means eight and each Aett is named after a god/ess from Scandinavian mythology and so contains a sequence of meanings derived from the deity's connections and relationships.
Freya's Aett:
Fehu: Cattle
Uruz: Auroch
Thurisaz: Thorn/Thursur
Ansuz: Odin
Raido: Thor/Journey/Cart/Chariot/Foresti/Wagon
Kaunaz: Tourch/Boil/Ulcer
Gebo: Gift
Wunjo: Joy
Hagal's Aett:
Hazalaz: Hail
Nauthiz: Need
Isa: Ice
Jera: Year/Spear/Harvest
Eihwaz: Yew
Pertho: Vulva/Dice Cup/Fate
Algiz: Protection
Sowello: Sun
Tyr's Aett:
Tiwaz: Tyr
Berkano: Birch Tree
Ehwaz: Horse/Divine Twins
Mannaz: Humankind
Laquz: Lake/Leek
Inguz: Ing
Othila: Inheritance
Dagaz: Day
The Rune Poems
The four Rune poems are a recitation or kennning of the Runes and presumably used as an aid in memorising and teaching Rune lore.
The oldest is the Abecedarium Nordmanicum (The Alphabet of the Northeners) and relates to the Younger Futhark. It is sometimes referred to as The Old Swiss Rune Poem and was discovered in a manuscript written in the 9th Century written in both high and low German.
The Old English Rune Poem is the only one which mentions all 24 letters of the Elder Futhark as well as those from the Anglo Frisian Futhark. (8th - 10th Century AD)
The Old Norwegian Rune Poem is the only one to refer to Christ by name. (12th - 13th Century AD)
The youngest of the three is The Old Icelandic Rune Poem. (15th Century)
The Havamal
The story of how the runes were discovered is told in the Havamal or Words of the High One. The High One is Odin also known as All Father and Leader of the Gods.
Odin's Quest after the Runes
137.
I trow I hung on that windy Tree
nine whole days and nights,
stabbed with a spear, offered to Odin,
myself to mine own self given,
high on that Tree of which none hath heard
from what roots it rises to heaven.
138.
None refreshed me ever with food or drink,
I peered right down in the deep;
crying aloud I lifted the Runes
then back I fell from thence.
139.
Nine mighty songs I learned from the great
son of Bale-thorn, Bestla's sire;
I drank a measure of the wondrous Mead,
with the Soulstirrer's drops I was showered.
140.
Ere long I bare fruit, and throve full well,
I grew and waxed in wisdom;
word following word, I found me words,
deed following deed, I wrought deeds.
141.
Hidden Runes shalt thou seek and interpreted signs,
many symbols of might and power,
by the great Singer painted, by the high Powers fashioned,
graved by the Utterer of gods.
142.
For gods graved Odin, for elves graved Daïn,
Dvalin the Dallier for dwarfs,
All-wise for Jötuns, and I, of myself,
graved some for the sons of men.
143.
Dost know how to write, dost know how to read,
dost know how to paint, dost know how to prove,
dost know how to ask, dost know how to offer,
dost know how to send, dost know how to spend?
144.
Better ask for too little than offer too much,
like the gift should be the boon;
better not to send than to overspend.
........
Thus Odin graved ere the world began;
Then he rose from the deep, and came again.
There are several different types of Runic alphabet:
Elder Futhark
Gothic Runes
Anglo-Saxon Futhorc
Younger Futhark
Danish Futhark
Swedish-Norwegian / Short-twig / Rök Runes
Norwegian Futhark
Gothenburg / Bohuslän Runes
Medieval (Latinised) Futhark
Medieval
In ancient Norse, 'Rune' has several different meanings including: text; inscription and letter. It also means: mystery and secret. Runes are generally thought to have two purposes, one is literal the other is magical. The word Futhark is made up of the first six letters of the alphabet - Fehu (f) Uruz (u) Thurisaz (th) Ansuz (a) Raido ® Kaunaz (k).
The Elder Futhark (the Runes I'm concentrating on) is divided into three groups or Aetts. Aett means eight and each Aett is named after a god/ess from Scandinavian mythology and so contains a sequence of meanings derived from the deity's connections and relationships.
Freya's Aett:
Fehu: Cattle
Uruz: Auroch
Thurisaz: Thorn/Thursur
Ansuz: Odin
Raido: Thor/Journey/Cart/Chariot/Foresti/Wagon
Kaunaz: Tourch/Boil/Ulcer
Gebo: Gift
Wunjo: Joy
Hagal's Aett:
Hazalaz: Hail
Nauthiz: Need
Isa: Ice
Jera: Year/Spear/Harvest
Eihwaz: Yew
Pertho: Vulva/Dice Cup/Fate
Algiz: Protection
Sowello: Sun
Tyr's Aett:
Tiwaz: Tyr
Berkano: Birch Tree
Ehwaz: Horse/Divine Twins
Mannaz: Humankind
Laquz: Lake/Leek
Inguz: Ing
Othila: Inheritance
Dagaz: Day
The Rune Poems
The four Rune poems are a recitation or kennning of the Runes and presumably used as an aid in memorising and teaching Rune lore.
The oldest is the Abecedarium Nordmanicum (The Alphabet of the Northeners) and relates to the Younger Futhark. It is sometimes referred to as The Old Swiss Rune Poem and was discovered in a manuscript written in the 9th Century written in both high and low German.
The Old English Rune Poem is the only one which mentions all 24 letters of the Elder Futhark as well as those from the Anglo Frisian Futhark. (8th - 10th Century AD)
The Old Norwegian Rune Poem is the only one to refer to Christ by name. (12th - 13th Century AD)
The youngest of the three is The Old Icelandic Rune Poem. (15th Century)
The Havamal
The story of how the runes were discovered is told in the Havamal or Words of the High One. The High One is Odin also known as All Father and Leader of the Gods.
Odin's Quest after the Runes
137.
I trow I hung on that windy Tree
nine whole days and nights,
stabbed with a spear, offered to Odin,
myself to mine own self given,
high on that Tree of which none hath heard
from what roots it rises to heaven.
138.
None refreshed me ever with food or drink,
I peered right down in the deep;
crying aloud I lifted the Runes
then back I fell from thence.
139.
Nine mighty songs I learned from the great
son of Bale-thorn, Bestla's sire;
I drank a measure of the wondrous Mead,
with the Soulstirrer's drops I was showered.
140.
Ere long I bare fruit, and throve full well,
I grew and waxed in wisdom;
word following word, I found me words,
deed following deed, I wrought deeds.
141.
Hidden Runes shalt thou seek and interpreted signs,
many symbols of might and power,
by the great Singer painted, by the high Powers fashioned,
graved by the Utterer of gods.
142.
For gods graved Odin, for elves graved Daïn,
Dvalin the Dallier for dwarfs,
All-wise for Jötuns, and I, of myself,
graved some for the sons of men.
143.
Dost know how to write, dost know how to read,
dost know how to paint, dost know how to prove,
dost know how to ask, dost know how to offer,
dost know how to send, dost know how to spend?
144.
Better ask for too little than offer too much,
like the gift should be the boon;
better not to send than to overspend.
........
Thus Odin graved ere the world began;
Then he rose from the deep, and came again.