The Runic Alphabet

Elder Futhark

For my 2D design project, the class’ theme was Vikings. This prompted me to research the runic alphabet.

The runic alphabet was used primarily for Germanic languages before they adopted the Latin alphabet. They were used primarily in the very beginning of the common era, likely before 200 BCE. They are often found on runestones.

It is unsure from where the runic alphabet originated. They are assumed to have originated from one of the Old Italic alphabets that preceded them by hundreds of years, however, no one is entirely sure which alphabet was specifically its origin. While the Raetic alphabet shares 18 of the symbols of the Elder Futhark runes, some think that the runic alphabet was derived directly from the Latin alphabet, while others think it may have originated from an Old Etruscan alphabet with a Germanic name, called Harigast.

Originally, runes could be written in any direction, but eventually they came to be written from left to write as many other western alphabets. In addition, words tended to run together, with no spaces, though occasionally one or two dots may serve the same purpose of spaces.

The most ubiquitous set of Runic alphabet is the Elder Futhark runes. They are also considered the oldest set of runes. The term “Futhark” is used because the first six runes are symbols for the Latin equivalent of “f-u-đ (or th) -a-r-k”.  

The Elder Futhark runes are the runes I chose to use for my project, because I wanted an element of antiquity. Runes are associated with mysticism, and I incorporated this magical element, although it is overlain with subtle Christian symbolism. The particulars of my project will be discussed in the next blog.