The Pagan Runic alphabet, also known as the Futhark, is an ancient writing system used by various Germanic pagan tribes during the early Middle Ages. This alphabet was primarily used by pre-Christian communities in Northern Europe and Scandinavia, such as the Norse, Vikings, and Anglo-Saxons. The Pagan Runic alphabet consists of a set of characters known as runes, which are typically made up of straight lines that can be easily carved or inscribed onto various surfaces. Each rune represents a specific sound or phoneme, as well as a particular meaning or concept. The number of runes in the Pagan Runic alphabet can vary depending on the specific version or variant being used. The most well-known version of the Pagan Runic alphabet is the Elder Futhark, which consists of 24 runes arranged in three groups or rows known as ættir.
In runic writing, a space, a single dot (.) or two dots (:) may break the symbols or words. Sometimes no break was used and the rune symbols all run together. Runic writing can run from left to right, or from right to left; sometimes even from top to bottom or the opposite. In the Vikings' runic inscriptions, we do find numbers written down, but it's very rare. Usually numbers are spelled out as whole words. They can also be bind. Bind runes consist of two or more runes superimposed on each other, sharing a common stem.
The distribution of the ogham inscriptions, combined with their language and grammatical forms, point to South Wales or southern Ireland as their place of origin and to the 4th century ce as the date of their origin. Elder Futhark has 24 runes, and over the next few centuries became widely used amongst the many Germanic tribes that vied for survival throughout northern Europe.
The most well-known version of the Pagan Runic alphabet is the Elder Futhark, which consists of 24 runes arranged in three groups or rows known as ættir. Each ætt represents a different realm or domain, such as the gods, humans, or nature. Each rune within the alphabet has its own name and significance, often associated with aspects of the natural world or Norse mythology.
Runic and ogham alphabets
Runes, in all their varieties, may be regarded as the “national” script of the ancient North Germanic tribes. The origin of the name rune (or runic) is probably related to the fact that the ancient Germanic tribes, like many other peoples, attributed magic powers to the mysterious symbols scratched on armour, jewels, tombstones, and so forth. This is given credence by two related Germanic forms that mean “mystery, secret, secrecy”: the Old Germanic root ru- and the Gothic runa. The most interesting runic inscriptions are those that were cut for magical purposes and those that appeal to deities.
The origin of the runes offers many difficult problems and has been hotly argued by scholars and others. The theory of the Urrunen (forerunners of the runes), a supposed prehistoric north Germanic alphabetic script, holds that it is the parent not only of the runes but also of all the Mediterranean alphabets, including the Phoenician. This belief, based on racial and political grounds, need not be seriously considered. Some scholars propounded the 6th century bce Greek alphabet as the prototype of the runes; others have suggested the Greek cursive alphabet of the last centuries bce . Several eminent scholars have proposed the Latin alphabet as the source of the runes. The most probable theory, supported recently by many scholars, is that the runic script derived from a North Etruscan, Alpine alphabet. In that case, it is very probable that it originated about the 2nd century bce or a little later.
It is still unknown whether the runes were originally employed mainly for magical purposes, as suggested by the name runa, or as a usual means of communication. The earliest extant runic inscriptions, numbering over 50, come from Denmark and Schleswig and date from the 3rd to the 6th century ce . About 60 inscriptions from Norway date from the 5th to the 8th century, slightly later than the continental ones. There are also about 50 Anglo-Saxon runic inscriptions extant, including the Franks Casket (about 650–700 ce ); the right side of the casket is in the Bargello, in Florence, and the rest is in the British Museum. The largest number of inscriptions, about 2,500, come from Sweden; most of these date from the 11th and 12th centuries ce .
There is no certain evidence of wide literary use of runes in early times, but some scholars hold that the runic writing was widely employed for all kinds of secular documents, such as legal provisions, contracts, genealogies, and poems. The known manuscripts are, however, rare and relatively late. The gradual displacement of the runes coincided with the increasing influence of the Roman Catholic Church. The runic scripts lingered on for a long time after the introduction of Christianity, however; indeed, the use of runes for charms and memorial inscriptions lasted into the 16th or even the 17th century.
The ogham alphabet was restricted to the Celtic population of the British Isles. There are over 375 known inscriptions: 316 of them have been discovered in Ireland, chiefly in the southern counties, with only 55 from the northern counties; 40 inscriptions have been discovered in Wales; two come from Devon; and one is from Cornwall. One inscription was discovered at Silchester in southern England. About 10 come from the Isle of Man, and a few are from Scotland. The Welsh inscriptions are usually bilingual, Latin-Celtic. With one exception, the Irish records are in ogham alone. Most peculiar is the runic-oghamic inscription from the Isle of Man (the runes being a kind of “secret” writing and the oghams being a cryptic script). The distribution of the ogham inscriptions, combined with their language and grammatical forms, point to South Wales or southern Ireland as their place of origin and to the 4th century ce as the date of their origin.
The ogham character was used for writing messages and letters (generally on wooden staves), but sometimes it was also written on shields or other hard material and was employed for carving on tombstones. The oghams formed a cryptic script, and there were several varieties, such as wheel oghams, bird oghams, tree oghams, hill oghams, church oghams, colour oghams, and others. The main ogham alphabet consisted of 20 letters represented by straight or diagonal strokes, varying in number from one to five and drawn or cut below, above, or right through horizontal lines, or else drawn or cut to the left, right, or directly through vertical lines. The ogham alphabet was divided into four groups (aicme), each containing five letters. Oghams were employed during the Middle Ages; the 14th-century Book of Ballymote reproduces the earliest keys for translation. In many cases the ogham inscriptions run upward.
Several ogham inscriptions known as the Pictish oghams were found in western Scotland, on the small island of Gigha off the western coast, in Argyll, in northeastern Scotland, and on the northern isles, such as the Shetland Islands. They either belong to the same type as the Irish and Welsh oghams or are written in another ogham variety.
Despite its pagan origins, the Pagan Runic alphabet was also used by early Christian communities during the Middle Ages, as well as for various secular purposes such as inscriptions on gravestones or personal belongings. Over time, however, the use of the Runic alphabet declined, in favor of the Latin alphabet introduced by Christian missionaries. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the Pagan Runic alphabet among neopagan and heathen communities, who see it as a way to connect with their ancestral roots and cultural heritage. It is often used as a means of divination, magic, and honoring the gods and spirits of Norse mythology. Overall, the Pagan Runic alphabet represents an important part of Northern European history and mythology. It serves as a tangible link to the pagan past and offers insight into the beliefs, customs, and languages of the ancient Germanic tribes. Whether viewed as a writing system, a spiritual tool, or a cultural artifact, the Pagan Runic alphabet continues to fascinate and inspire people to this day..
Reviews for "Pagan Runic Alphabet and its Connection to Ancient Norse Magic"
1. Sarah - 1 out of 5 stars - I was really disappointed with the Pagan runic alphabet. I bought it hoping to learn more about the ancient runes and their meanings, but the book was poorly organized and didn't provide enough information. The explanations were vague and confusing, and there were no illustrations or examples to help understand how to write the different characters. Overall, I felt like I wasted my money on a book that didn't deliver what it promised.
2. Michael - 2 out of 5 stars - I found the Pagan runic alphabet to be a bit underwhelming. While the book did provide a basic overview of the symbols and their meanings, it lacked depth and detail. I was hoping for more historical context and cultural significance, but it seemed like a watered-down introduction rather than a comprehensive guide. I would recommend looking for other resources if you're seriously interested in learning about runic alphabets.
3. Emily - 1 out of 5 stars - I really struggled to find any value in the Pagan runic alphabet book. The content was poorly researched and riddled with inaccuracies. Additionally, the writing style was dry and unengaging, making it difficult to stay interested. I would caution others against investing in this book and suggest seeking alternative sources for a more credible and enjoyable learning experience.