Rune symbology: what do they mean in Norse mythology?
The runes have aroused some interest lately especially among the more mystical sectors.
These symbols were originally the main Old Norse writing system and, in addition to conveying words on paper or stone, they also had a mystical meaning.
The symbology of the runes is complex and rich, closely related to the myth of the creation of this alphabet and the god Odin. Let's see it next.
- Related article: "The 6 most famous Viking gods"
What is the symbology of the runes?
The runes are the most distinctive symbols of the ancient Norse peoples, including the Vikings. These symbols were the writing system used by the Old Norse, used to immortalize the teachings, stories and values of these cultures on the rocks. Today, we can find many archaeological remains with runes throughout Scandinavia, such as For example, the Rök stone (Sweden) or the Jelling stones (Denmark) and also on paper, such as the “Codex runicus ”.
These symbols have aroused the interest of many people related to the New Age, the mystical and the spiritual. It is not surprising, since these symbols are wrapped in an aura of mystery, especially since despite being the ancient Norse they ancestors of the Norwegians, Swedes, Danes and Icelanders, it seems that their way of life has been annulled by Christianity and the world Greco-Roman. To make matters worse, the very name of the runes, "rūn", means "secret", which arouses even more curiosity and mysticism.
In the original Norse culture, runes were not only a form of written expression, but were also sacred symbols. Through which the Vikings established contact with their gods, especially the god Odin. It was this god who is credited with having unmasked the meaning of these symbols, revealing it to the people and using it in poetry written in the numerous Nordic sagas.
Legend has it that the god Odin hung himself from the legendary Yggdrasil, the tree of life whose roots and branches hold different worlds together. Odin hung for nine days and nine nights, penitent since his own spear was piercing him. It was thanks to his sacrifice and suffering that the meaning of the symbols was revealed to him and he was able to share them with mortals.
This legend is told in the "Rúnatáls þáttr Óðins" ("Runic Song of Odin"), a section of the "Hávamál" ("Discourse of the Most High"), one of the poems of the Poetic Edda That says so:
I know I hung up. in a tree swayed by the wind. nine long nights. wounded by a spear. and consecrated to Odin, myself consecrated to myself, in that tree of which no one. knows the origin of its roots.
They did not give me bread, nor to drink from a horn, I leaned over, with a cry of lamentation. the runes made themselves known to me, until I fell from the tree.
The runic alphabet
While the runic alphabet has been recovered in modern times by occultists and followers of the New Age movements, we must not forget what it served in its origin: transmitting knowledge written.
The runes do not cease to be a writing system whose name is "fuþark" or "futhark" (pronounced as "fúzarc") which is made up of some 17 basic original runes.
Likewise, there were different varieties of this alphabet, in addition to various interpretations have arisen throughout history.
One of the most interesting interpretations is that made by the occultist Guido von List. This German-Austrian journalist was one of the most important figures in the resurgence of Germanic Neopaganism and runic magic in the late 19th century. He is also known for his antisemitic ideas and his essays on the white race, giving rise to the first postulates on Aryosophy. In fact, in his work "The secret of the runes" he introduces the gibor rune, a symbol that would later serve as inspiration for the Nazi swastika.
The 17 runes and their meaning in Norse culture
Each of these runes has a different meaning in the Norse religion.. Next we are going to see what each one means, said with the name they received in the three main variants of futhark: old, Anglo-Saxon and young.
1. Fehu
Fehu, ugly or faith. This rune It is associated with the generating and penetrating fire. It is also associated with true wisdom.
2. Uruz
Uruz, ur or úr. Represents eternity, primordial and resurrection, in addition to the primal fire.
3. Thurisaz
Thurisaz, thorn or Þurs. Represents everything related to a storm, such as thunder, lightning and lightning. It has an ambivalent meaning, since it represents both the thunder of death and the thunder of life, since after death comes rebirth.
4. Anssuz
Anssuz, os or oss. It is related to the mouth, the rising and the ash. It can also mean the power of the word, which allows us to mediate without the need to use physical violence. With the word, with the mouth it is possible to convince others.
5. Frayed
Raido, rad or ræið. Its name is related to the etymological roots of many words in current Scandinavian languages, among them red (in Swedish “röd”), straight (in Norwegian “rettighet”) or correct (Danish “ret”).
6. Kaunan
Kaunan, cen or kaun. This rune has different versions, but it comes to mean audacity and it is related to the feminine character of sexual purity, the people, the tribe, the idea that a culture should be preserved without allowing foreign influences. It is also synonymous with lineage, of blood union.
7. Gebo
Gebo, gyfu or hagall. This rune also has different versions but in all of them represents the center of everything, suggesting it with its cross shape. It also means destroy and this second meaning relates it to hail, a phenomenon that destroys crops. In fact, in modern Norse languages "hagl" or "hagel" means, precisely, hail.
8. Naudiz
Naudiz, nyth or nauðr. Represents the need and the compulsion of destiny, which according to his religion leads entities to behave according to their nature according to Norse mythology.
9. Isaz
Isaz, is or ís. Represents the hard tenacity of iron and the inflexibility of a constant spirit and committed to his mission. It also represents personal and spiritual power, the will to achieve what we set out to do.
10. Ar
This rune present in the young futhark is synonymous with Sun, the primordial fire that warms the most. It also symbolizes deity, the power of the gods, light, and the power to reveal knowledge within dark ignorance. It would come to represent the modern idea that a light bulb turns on when we have doubts, uncertainty or we have trouble understanding something.
11. Sun
Sigel or solid. It is the mystical rune of salvation and victory.
12. Tiwaz
Tiwuz, tir or týr. The spirit of the Sun and the sword is attributed to him.
13. Berkanan
Berkanan, beorc or bjarkan. Its symbology is that of the birth and the sweet melody of a song.
14. Laguz
Laguz, lagu or lögr. It is the primal law, life, the sea and, also, the fall.
15. Mannaz
Mannaz, man or maðr. In its most primal meaning means Moon (mån) and mother (sea), two words that represent femininity.
16. Ýr
Ýr is a rune that is considered in the most archaic versions of Norse to be written rotated, called algiz. Be that as it may, the truth is that It is related to the rainbow and the wood of the yew, as well as emotions of violence such as anger and, also, with the commission of errors.
17. Ehwaz
Ehwaz or huh. It has symbology related to the world of laws and courts. It is also associated with weddings and with the animal spirit of the horse. Marriage was very important in the ancient Norse world, being considered what allowed the peoples to continue since it was the beginning of the formation of new generations.
