Runes - Significance and Meaning
Runes have two purposes, one - to be used as an alphabet
'The runic alphabets are called “futharks” after the first six runes (Fehu, Uruz, Thurisaz, Ansuz, Raidho, Kaunan), in much the same way that the word “alphabet” comes from the names of the first two Semitic letters (Aleph, Beth). There are three principal futharks: the 24-character Elder Futhark, the first fully-formed runic alphabet, whose development had begun by the first century CE and had been completed before the year 400;[4] the 16-character Younger Futhark, which began to diverge from the Elder Futhark around the beginning of the Viking Age (c. 750 CE)[5] and eventually replaced that older alphabet in Scandinavia; and the 33-character Anglo-Saxon Futhorc, which gradually altered and added to the Elder Futhark in England. On some inscriptions, the twenty-four runes of the Elder Futhark were divided into three ættir (Old Norse, “families”) of eight runes each,[6] but the significance of this division is unfortunately unknown.'
What were they made from?
Runes were traditionally carved onto stone, wood, bone, metal, or some similarly hard surface rather than drawn with ink and pen on parchment. This explains their sharp, angular form, which was well-suited to the medium.
Runes - Second use
Each rune was an ideographic or pictographic symbol of some cosmological principle or power, and to write a rune was to invoke and direct the force for which it stood. Indeed, in every Germanic language, the word “rune” (from Proto-Germanic *runo) means both “letter” and “secret” or “mystery,” and its original meaning, which likely predated the adoption of the runic alphabet, may have been simply “(hushed) message.”
Each rune had a name that hinted at the philosophical and magical significance of its visual form and the sound for which it stands, which was almost always the first sound of the rune’s name. For example, the T-rune, called *Tiwaz in the Proto-Germanic language, is named after the god Tiwaz (known as Tyr in the Viking Age). Tiwaz was perceived to dwell within the daytime sky, and, accordingly, the visual form of the T-rune is an arrow pointed upward (which surely also hints at the god’s martial role). The T-rune was often carved as a standalone ideograph, apart from the writing of any particular word, as part of spells cast to ensure victory in battle.
Reflection :
Runes have been of interest to me for many years now, as there forgotten language and hidden meanings create a impression of mystery and heritage. Much like tarot cards and other forms of divination, which were widely used in ancient Britain and across Europe. Life in the middle ages was particularly fraught with uncertainty regarding crops, livestock and fertility in general. Having an insight into the future holds a particular interest to us, even today, as our lives are just as fragile in many ways. The Runes pictured in the above images have a harsh gestural appearance, there deliberate marks echo the way in which they were carved. Runes, that symbolise marks of the gods have a powerful connotations tied to them and often appear through gestural poses in tribal dances.
Sources:
Book used:
Blum. R (1993). The book of Runes . L.A California : Mandarian Offset . 87-135.
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