Katie Buckheit

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• Katie Buckheit
• Ariana Tart-Zelvin

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What are runes?

• Alphabet system that predates Old English
• Used for writing and divination and magic
• Used all over Europe, Scandanavia, British Isles

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Alphabets
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Origins

• Mostly unknown
• Theories
• Created independently
• Created in Southern Europe and brought north by
  Germanic tribes
• Created using Latinate and/or Etruscan alphabet

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Origins

• Mythological Origins
• Divine origin (600 CE)
• The root run of rune means secret, mystery,
  whisper
• Evidence in literature

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Poetic Edda Poem Havamal

• That is now proved,
• what you asked of the runes,
• of the potent famous ones,
• which the great gods made,
• and the mighty sage stained,
• that it is best for him if he stays silent

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History

• Names derived from the first six letters of the
  alphabet
• Three main variations
• Elder Futhark
• Anglo-Saxon Futhorc
• Younger Futhark

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Elder Futhark

• 150-800 A.D.
• Used in Eastern Europe, Scandavia
• Contained 24 runes split into 3 groups of 8
  (aetts)

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Aetts
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Anglo-Saxon Futhorc

• Runes were brought to Britain in the 5th century
  by Anglo-Saxons
• Letters were added
• Entire class of labiovelars
• Several unique runes (dipthongs)
• Commonly used on jewelry, weapons and stones
• Only a few manuscripts found

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Younger Futhark

• Scandanavia (Denmark and Sweden)
• Evolved over many years, became stable around 800
  A.D.
• Used until 17th century
• Eliminated some runes
• Greater number of phonemes
• Voiced and voiceless consonants merged in written
  language
• Number of spoken vowels increased

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History

• Runic alphabet was replaced by Latin alphabet
  because of Christian missionaries in 700 A.D.
• Runes were preserved only for special ceremonies
  and mystical purposes

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Uses

• Writing and divination

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Divination

• Each rune has a meaning associated with a Norse
  god
• Example rune wunjo
• Meanings-glory, success, reward, joy, achievement
• Magical uses- promote success, improve motivation
• Related god- Baldr (light/beauty)
• Corresponding letters in Modern English w,v

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Example

• Wunjo
• wunjo pronunciation

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(No Transcript)
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Modern Uses

• Still seen in some religions
• Neopaganism, Wiccan
• Used in Tolkiens The Hobbit
• On maps to emphasize relation to dwarves
• Used in the Harry Potter series in relation to
  fortune-telling

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Sources

• http//www.sunnyway.com/runes/
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runic_alphabet
• http//www.tarahill.com/runes/aett_1.html
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldr
• http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vikings/runes.html
• http//images.google.com/imgres?imgurlhttp//www.
  rocksandrunes.com/images/newRunes.gifimgrefurlht
  tp//www.rocksandrunes.com/runes.shtmlusg__W08Nm
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