The name ‘ rune’ is derived from the Germanic root ‘ run’ (Gothic ‘ runa’), to mean ’ whisper’ or ‘ secret’.

The Elder Futhark is thought to have been a more secretive script, know by a much fewer literate elite (only about 350 inscriptions have been found).īetween 650 to 800 AD, some inscriptions mixed the use of Elder and Younger Futhark runes.įun fact: The Swedish province of Dalarna (where the Dalecarlian runes persisted until the 20 th century) has been called the ‘last stronghold of the Germanic script’. The Younger Futhark was widely spread and examples have been found around 3,000 times in Scandinavia and other Viking Age settlements. The Younger Futhark is also subdivided into several branches and developed into the Medieval and Dalecarlian Runes as time went on.

The Anglo-Saxon form differs in name due to a shift in the sound when pronounced in Old English. The three most well known runic alphabets are the Scandinavian ‘Elder Futhark’ (150-800AD) and ‘Younger Futhark’ (800-1100 AD) and the Anglo-Saxon ‘Futhorc’ (400-1100 AD). Runes began to be replaced with Latin characters once Christianity began to take hold between 700-1100 AD, though their practical use persisted for some decorative and specialized purposes for sometime after. The oldest runic inscriptions found to date are from around 150 AD, while runes were used by many Germanic communities from the 1 st or 2 nd century AD. Origins, history and etymology Early examples and uses When exploring the origins behind them, it’s easy to see why runes still resonate with us so much still. Today, runes have also become a common occurrence in popular culture and the fantasy genre as a whole. The runic alphabet has existed for thousands of years and was used to write many Germanic languages before the introduction of the Latin alphabet, including that of the Vikings.Īs well as being a literal alphabet used during the Viking ages, runes were (and still are by some) believed to hold power, symbolize inherent qualities and values and be associated with magic, as well as having meanings in more modern divination and oracle reading practices too.

Meaning of the elder futhark runes