The final incarnation of the alphabet happens in the 10th century when vertical strokes are all but abandoned in the ‘staveless’ version. This smaller version of the ancient alphabet is further subdivided into Danish and Swedish/Norwegian versions known respectively as the long-branch and short-twig runes. The Younger Futhark is reduced to 16 characters even though at the time Norse was developing more phonemes in the spoken language. The Germanic Elder Futhark as we have seen has a total of 24 characters and derives from the Greek alphabet. The alphabet found its final form after a transition period of approximately 200 years in the 7th and 8th centuries. Its adoption is loosely contemporaneous with the Viking age. Widespread use of the Younger Futhark begins in approximately the 9th century. Observed similarities between several of the characters make this abundantly clear. The accepted historical account, agreed upon by modern scholars is that the runes derive from the Greek alphabet. Viking thought was not as linear as some historians and even many pagans would like it to be. They are not, however, mutually exclusive. One is via traditional lore, the other through modern archaeology. There are two main ways to approach the subject of Norse runes. The Younger Futhark, also known as Scandinavian runes, date from about the 9 th century. This continued until about the 8 th century. Early Germanic tribes used the Elder Futhark system from around the beginning of the Common Era. There are two main versions of Norse runes the Elder Futhark and the Younger Futhark. And, though we cannot be 100% certain of their intended meaning, we have also found several common abbreviations for longer runic inscriptions on certain trinkets.Asztalos Gyula, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Through these artifacts, we have learned that groupings of 3 runes at a time seemed particularly meaningful, as did simple groupings of rhyming symbols. In the archaeological record we find dozens of examples of charmed items, with simple and extravagant engravings inĮlder Futhark. They were the ones who understood the hidden meanings, the pairings of symbols, and the power of words! Rune Masters could inscribe a simple bracelet with runes, or even abbreviate incantations and carve them onto a tiny medallion and imbue it with powers and charms. Knowledge of the intimate nature of each individual rune was restricted to masters, nobles, kings, and magicians. Much like any power though, the power given to man through the runes was not something to be taken lightly, nor was it to be given to just anyone. As far as mysticism and lore are concerned, runes bring with them the power of the gods themselves. After this, he was able to use runes to grant power, bless or curse, and even raise the dead (referenced in It was Odin who, through the act of human sacrifice, sacrificing himself to himself, proved himself worthy of gaining both the knowledge and the power of the runes. Sacrificing himself to himself “on the tree of which no man knows from where its roots run” (a reference to Yggdrasil, the tree of life). After all, it was Odin himself who brought the runes to man, through is great act of It is no secret that the secret of runes is one of great power. Runes were a way of marking the nature of existence, recording and imbuing secret powers that previously, had belonged solely to the gods themselves. While words and letters were used to capture the sounds of the human voice, runes were designed to capture the intentions of reality itself. Sages who could see through time and watch it unravel, these were the mages, the magicians… the Rune Masters! It was only the wisest who could read or write, and only a select few among them who truly understood the truths which wove together the very fabric of the world itself. Magic (magick) filled the world, sometimes lighting the way to greatness, but more often than not, hiding – concealed in the darkest depths of mystery – waiting to be discovered and used for good or for ill. If you are a fan of mythology, likely you have come across more than a handful of legends and tales of curious beasts, furious battles, and of course myths and magics that the world has long forgotten.
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