Kelsey Lund - Rutgers Universitykyc/Teaching/Files/264/1213 kelsy.pdf · Bor married the giantess Bestla, the daughter of the frost-giant Boltha. And they became the parents of the

Kelsey Lund

When were the first runes invented and used? From which previously existing alphabet were runes derived and

how did this happen? How were runes employed in Germanic culture and what was

the reason for its invention? Runic writing in Norse mythology A brief look into Norse mythology and its lasting effects todayy gy g y

Ancient runes were known to have been used by the Germanic Ancient runes were known to have been used by the Germanic peoples in a number of different languages including Proto-Norse and Anglo-Saxon and later Frisian, Frankish, and other continental Germanic languages.

The runes marked a common linguistic ground before the Germanic languages began to divide languages began to divide.

The range extended from Scandinavia in the north to northern central Europe in the south before the massive migration period beginning in Europe in the south before the massive migration period beginning in the first century AD.

The largest amount of runic inscriptions has been uncovered in S d hil N d D k h ld id bl l d th Sweden while Norway and Denmark hold considerably less and the continental areas contributing very little.

Germanic Range and Expansion

This map shows the reach of Germanic tribes across Europe before the fall of the Roman Empire. They also extended into the British Isles and France during the age of expansion.

Ancient runes are the alphabetic systems that were used by various Germanic peoples to Ancient runes are the alphabetic systems that were used by various Germanic peoples to record everything from poetry to history to “magic”.

Generally, runes were written on stone and metals with only a few examples of runes written on parchment (Code R nic s belo left)on parchment (Codex Runicus, below left).

The Scandinavian system is named futhark (fuþark) and has 24 symbols while the Anglo-Saxon variant is called futhorc. Fuþark is actually derived from the first six letters of the

l h b F U Þ A R d Kalphabet: F, U, Þ, A, R, and K.

Rune Transliteration IPA Proto-Germanic name MeaningRune Transliteration IPA Proto Germanic name Meaning

ᚠ f /f/ *fehu "wealth, cattle"

ᚢ u /u(ː)/ ?*ūruz "aurochs" (or *ûram "water/slag"?)

ᚦ þ /θ/, /ð/ ?*þurisaz "the god Thor, giant"

ᚨ a /a(ː)/ *ansuz "one of the Æsir (gods)"

ᚱ r /r/ *raidō "ride, journey"

ᚲ k /k/ ?*kaunan "ulcer"? (or *kenaz "torch"?)

ᚷ g /g/ *gebō "gift"ᚷ g /g/ gebō gift

ᚹ w /w/ *wunjō "joy"

ᚺ ᚻ h /h/ *hagalaz "hail" (the precipitation)

ᚾ n /n/ *naudiz "need"

ᛁ i /i(ː)/ *īsaz "ice"

ᛃ j /j/ *jēra- "year, good year, harvest"

ᛇ ï (or æ) /æː/(?) *ī(h)waz/*ei(h)waz "yew-tree"

ᛈ p /p/ ?*perþ- meaning unclear, perhaps "pear-tree".p p p þ g , p p p

ᛉ z /z/ ?*algiz unclear, possibly "elk".

ᛊ s /s/ *sōwilō "Sun"

ᛏ t /t/ *tīwaz/*teiwaz "the god Tiwaz"

ᛒ b /b/ *berkanan "birch"

ᛖ e /e(ː)/ *ehwaz "horse"

ᛗ m /m/ *mannaz "Man"

ᛚ l /l/ *laguz "water, lake" (or possibly *laukaz "leek")g , ( p y )

ᛜ ᛝ ŋ /ŋ/ *ingwaz "the god Ingwaz"

ᛟ o /o(ː)/ *ōþila-/*ōþala- "heritage, estate, possession"

ᛞ d /d/ *dagaz "day"

The oldest dated runic inscription was found on the Danish island of Funen in The oldest dated runic inscription was found on the Danish island of Funen in Vimose. It was a comb carved from bone and carried the inscription harja which is a personal name dating to that time.

It has been dated to about 150 AD and therefore the runic alphabet could have been developed no later than this time.

Elder Futhark is the first runic alphabet to have been used while its derivatives Elder Futhark is the first runic alphabet to have been used while its derivatives Anglo-Saxon Futhorc and Younger Futhark came later.

There is a large debate over when runes were first developed with estimates depending on the time span between its invention and the first known example of its use.

Runic writing is not a separate invention It is widely accepted that it has its roots in another Runic writing is not a separate invention. It is widely accepted that it has its roots in another alphabetic writing system and was adapted to serve the needs of the Germanic peoples. As one can see, it bears much resemblance to that of Roman letters, but exactly which system it derived from is a hotly contested issue among runologistsderived from is a hotly contested issue among runologists.

Scandinavian scholars tend to think that runes were derived from the Latin alphabet while Germanic and English scholars often think toward a North Italic base.Th i hi h h h i f i i f i i i There are two manners in which one can approach the issue of origin for runic writing: cultural relevance and “alphabet-historical”.

Around the time of the estimated origin of runes, it is clear that the Roman culture is dominant throughout Europe. It is easy to make a connection between Roman and Germanic contact and the development of a derivative system. Germanic soldiers would have gained exposure to the Roman system. However, there are several runes which have no observable equivalent in the Latin alphabet.

Some scholars have looked elsewhere for the source and have posited Northern Italic alphabets such as Etruscan and, pushing the origin date earlier, the Greek alphabet.

The strongest argument for the The strongest argument for the hypothesis that Germanic runes were derived from the Etruscan alphabet in derived from the Etruscan alphabet in northern Italy is the Negau Helmet which was found in present-day Slovenia.

It has the inscription of the Germanic i H igiven name Harigast.

It bears a strong resemblance to early F th k d i b Futhark runes and is seen by many experts as its precursor.

Rune inscriptions have Rune inscriptions have been seen on various personal objects such as

d lli b lt b kl medallions, belt buckles, weapons, brooches, rings, coins, and bone, as well as runestones which hold the longest examples of runic text.

The earliest examples of runic writing is found on personal objects and usually only bear one or two words, mostly names. On weapons, the name of the weapon is usually found inscribed on it sometimes along with the name of the ownerusually found inscribed on it, sometimes along with the name of the owner.

There have been long held beliefs that runes were occult in nature and that they served a secretive and superstitious purpose. However, this view is widely discredited by scholars as there is no evidence of this.

One of the most striking aspects of early runic writing is not what it was used for, but what it was not used for There are no archaeological examples of administrative or what it was not used for. There are no archaeological examples of administrative or literary texts. This strongly suggests that runes were not invented for those reasons which contrasts starkly with the origins of other writing systems. It also demonstrates that the Germanic peoples had a largely oral tradition based culture demonstrates that the Germanic peoples had a largely oral tradition-based culture that did not require writing. However, in later times, histories and poems are found on rune stones.

Runestones are typically raised stones that bear Runestones are typically raised stones that bear runic inscriptions.

About 3000 runestones have been found, accounting for half of the runic inscriptions found in Scandinavia.

Most runestones are found distributed throughout Most runestones are found distributed throughout Scandinavia with the majority of them in Sweden (left).

The tradition of erecting runestones began in the early fourth century and lasted to the twelfth century.

The earliest runestones were erected next to graves The earliest runestones were erected next to graves in honor of important men. However, many runestones were made to mark territory, inheritance, as well as to serve economic purposesas well as to serve economic purposes.

The Rök Runestone is considered to be one of the most The Rök Runestone is considered to be one of the most important extant runestones. It is located in Östergötland, Sweden. It was created in the ninth century AD and bears the longest runic inscription century AD and bears the longest runic inscription written in stone found to date and also is the longest pre-Christian inscription. It has writing on four of its five sides.sides.

It is considered the first piece of Swedish literature and therefore marks the beginning of Swedish literary historyhistory.

It contains both Younger Futhark and Elder Futhark. The runestone details a piece of Norse mythology that

was lost in modern times concerning that of twenty kings five of whom were brothers of the same name and their four fathers were brothers.

There is some amount of evidence that apart from being a simple writing system runic writing There is some amount of evidence that apart from being a simple writing system, runic writing also served some purpose for magic.

It is known that, historically, Germanic peoples used divination or magic to read omens and use charms. A well known charm word that appears often in texts used for magic is “alu” and use charms. A well known charm word that appears often in texts used for magic is alu and an “erilaz” is one highly versed in both runes and magic.

There are several inscriptions that do not hold meaning, but are rather like gibberish such as “aaaaaaaazzznnn-b- muttt” and “aaduaaaliia” which are regarded as magical chants. g gScholars widely believe that the stacking of letters in this manner carries a magical meaning, giving rise to the belief that the runes themselves were treated as sacred or charmed.

The Poetic Edda, which is a collection of Old Norse mythological poems references the magic qualities of runes as said by Odin, a main Norse god:

"Certain is that which is sought from runes / That the gods so great have made / And the Master-Poet painted“

" If high on a tree / I see a hanged man swing / So do I write and color the runes / That forth he fares / And to me talks."

There are several references There are several references among runestones and later codices such as the Poetic Eddathat point toward the Norse god that point toward the Norse god Odin giving life through the creation of runes:

Þat kann ek it tolfta,ef ek sé á tré uppiváfa virgilná,:

á k í t k í ú fák

I know a twelfth one if I see,up in a tree,a dangling corpse in a noose,I d l th svá ek ríst ok í rúnum fák,

at sá gengr gumiok mælir við mik.

I can so carve and color the runes,that the man walksAnd talks with me.

Norse mythology has its roots in Nordic pre-history. It remained a largely oral tradition until the thirteenth century when y gy p y g y yseveral Eddic texts were written. However, several runestones depicting scenes from the mythology have been found.

There were no distinct centers of worship in the sense of churches or temples and while there were priests and priestesses, it never evolved into a higher class order like that of the Celts.

The Norse creation myth is as follows:y

“There was nothing in the beginning but seemingly almost endless chasm called the Ginnungagap. Ginnungagap was a void like the Greek Chaos. Ginnungagap was bordered by Niflheim, which is the place of darkness and ice, far to the north; and Muspelheim, a place of fire, far to the south. Out of this chaos the first being came into existence from the drop of water

h i f Niflh i d fi f M lh i twhen ice from Niflheim and fire from Muspelheim met.This first being was Ymir, a primeval giant. The frost-giants called him Aurgelmir, but everyone else called him Ymir. Ymirbecame father of a race of frost-giants.Ymir was the father of six-headed son that was nourished by a cosmic cow called Audumla. Audumla fed herself by licking the salty rime stone until that stone was licked into a shape of man This stone man was named Buri and he was the first the salty rime-stone, until that stone was licked into a shape of man. This stone-man was named Buri and he was the first primeval god. Buri was the father of Bor.Bor married the giantess Bestla, the daughter of the frost-giant Boltha. And they became the parents of the first Aesir gods Odin, Vili (Hoenir) and Ve.Ymir grew so large and so evil that the three gods killed Ymir The blood that flowed from Ymir's wound was so great that Ymir grew so large and so evil that the three gods killed Ymir. The blood that flowed from Ymir s wound was so great that almost all the frost giants drowned in the torrent. Only the frost giants Bergelmer and his wife escape the flood in a chest, arriving on the mountain of Jötunheim (Jotunheim), which became the home of the giants (timelessmyths)”.

The most observable and relevant piece of Norse mythology that The most observable and relevant piece of Norse mythology that survives today is the days of the week:

Mánadagr Moon's dayTýsdagr Tyr's day

Óðinsdagr Odin's dayÞórsdagr Thor's dayÞórsdagr Thor s day

Frjádagr Freyja's dayLaugardagr Washing dayLaugardagr Washing day

Sunnudagr/Dróttinsdagr Sun's day/The Lord's day

As one can see, the names for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are all derived from the names of major Norse gods.

The earliest known runic inscription dates to c 150 AD but it is still unknown The earliest known runic inscription dates to c.150 AD, but it is still unknown when runes were invented with the earliest proposed dates pointing to the first century BC.

It is also unknown from where runes derived, with scholars divided over whether it is Roman or Northern Italic in origin although there is strong

id t d Et i i evidence towards an Etruscan origin. Its main purpose is also a mystery, but most findings point towards personal

possession magic and honoring the deadpossession, magic, and honoring the dead. Runestones seem to make up the majority of extended runic texts and

served a number of different purposes.p p The Germanic peoples placed a large value on the “powers” of runes as

evidenced by the charms and chants and the use of runes by the gods.

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Joe, Jimmy. "Norse Creation." Timeless Myths. Jimmy Joe, 02 Oct 2008. Web. 4 Dec , y y y ,2010. <http://www.timelessmyths.com/norse/beginning.html>.

"Runic Alphabet." Spelwerx. N.p., 2010. Web. 5 Dec 2010. <http://www.spelwerx.com/runic.html>.http://www.spelwerx.com/runic.html .

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Willi H ik "R f R " Th Fi t W iti Ed St h H t N Williams, Henrik. "Reasons for Runes." The First Writing. Ed. Stephen Houston. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2008. Print.Pictures:

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