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The ancient Germanic Runic alphabet and Runestones, their possible civilization origins, and their historic influence
by James Mayfield (Chairman, European Heritage Library)

Print this Article    •    About the Author    •    Bibliography/Sources

This article is about the ancient Germanic religious culture and their creation of the Runic alphabet and many historic Runestone artifacts throughout Scandinavia, the British Isles, and Europe. It also investigates whether the Germanic writing system was derived from Roman Latin or was entirely independent. In conclusion, it traces the modern influence of these ancient Germanic Runes in popular culture. If you would like to add theories and content to this article, or an error has been made, please notify us. If you would like me to teach you Runic, let me know.

As this article is very long and comprehensive, you may prefer the QUICK VIEW below:

Ethnographic & religious background •  Runic alphabet & meanings • Possible civilization origins • Runestones of the world • Runes adopted by Germanic nationalists and Nazis • Influence of Runes today

One of the more unique and historically-influential systems of writing in European history is the ancient Runic alphabet of the ancient Germanic cultures. It is unusual among other ancient European scripts in that most of our evidence of Runic writing comes from thousands of stone inscriptions distributed across Northern Europe, and because they were seemingly invented with very little foreign influence at a time when the Germanic peoples were portrayed as "barbarians." They are also famous because of the emphasis on ancient Germanic religion by the German Nazis during World War II. The Runic alphabet, created nearly 2,000 years ago, still is influential today in popular culture throughout Scandinavia.

Ethnographic and religious background on the Germanic peoples and their language:

The Germanic peoples share a common genetic, ethnocultural, historic, and linguistic heritage, and include the English, Norwegians, Swedes, Danes, Germans/Austrians, the Dutch, Flemings, Frisians, Icelanders, Faroese, and Volga Germans. Before the formation of independent national and political identities that caused partial divergence in each region's cultural traditions, the Germanic peoples followed a common religion, language, and culture. The pre-Christian religion to which the Germans adhered whether in remote Iceland or eastern Germany is today abstractly called Asatru or “Norse mythology,” and united the Germans under an informal pantheon that included the god of lightning Thor, the god of war Tyr, the high god of wisdom and death Odin/Woden/Wotan, and the god of purity Baldur. Read our article on the possible historic roots of Germanic gods for more information. Because the Germanic peoples lacked a written history until the first century AD, it is difficult to determine how, where, and when this religion coalesced. In the early centuries after Christ, Germanic peoples gradually forged formal states or tribal confederations, creating powerful empires in Spain, Tunisia (Carthage), France, England, and Italy. Most of these states adopted Christendom by the 7th century. The majority of the southern German societies on the European mainland were illiterate. Having been more closely exposed to Christendom, the few remnants of Runic outside of Scandinavia were replaced by Latin.

The northern Germans in Scandinavia have a comparatively different experience. Whereas Christendom, the Latin alphabet, and an intense enculturation campaign that phased out the old customs began on the mainland in the 5th century, the Germanic peoples of Scandinavia did not become Christian until after the 9th century. Runes were far more widespread in Scandinavia than in Germany, and thus most likely originated among the northern Germanic peoples, likely in Sweden. The Christianization process that victimized the old religion and its associated Runic votives was also incredibly gradual, and as a result Runic was used in Scandinavia in ever-decreasing forms until as late as the 17th century. The Vikings of Scandinavia, who adhered to the old Germanic religion that mythologized the Runic alphabet as a holy creation of Odin, spread the Runic alphabet to the distant shores where they settled and raided several centuries after Runic had died out among their relatives on the continent. Runic letters appear on many Icelandic Christian illuminated manuscripts centuries after the Viking Age, a coexistance with pre-Christian Germanic heritage that would be unheard of in many societies in Christianized Europe.

A post-Christian Icelandic manuscript depicting Thor fishing for Loki's son, the Jormungänger serpent

Most of our information on the early religious culture and use of Runes among the ancient Germans come from Medieval Iceland. Christian skalds and poets like Snorri Sturlusson (1178-1241) offer our best source material that allow us to reconstruct this early Germanic cultural orbit. To read an introduction to the Edda (an early Icelandic source), read our article on Sources on pre-Christian Germanic/Norse religion.

An EHL map of Europe's ethnic groups and their relations. The Germanic groups of a common descent are in orange. (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

The Stavkirke (Stave-Church) is the equivalent of a composite Christian-Odinic church. Previously crude temples depicted in the Icelandic sagas included altars for icons of Freyjr and Odin, and evolved with the adoption of Christendom to become a uniquely Scandinavian architecture that retained traces of the Odinic past. They are national monuments that can be seen all throughout Scandinavia. Primitive churches have been found in Russia, Ukraine, and Germany. Most German ones were probably destroyed by Christians since Germany quickly became the superpower of the Christian world by the 11th century.

The Runic alphabet, the Runes' meanings, and spiritual significance (divination):

The Runic alphabet was used as a formal system of writing in England, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, and the Baltic. There seems to have been a universal standard for writing the Runic alphabet. Carved or written by diverse authors and travelers from different backgrounds, all Runic inscriptions have an incredibly similar alphabet foundation whether in Estonia or Ireland. This is perplexing given that when the Runic alphabet was first used (2nd century CE), historians have been unable to locate a major political hegemon that was able to formalize this system of writing all across Northern Europe. The circumstances under which Runic inscriptions occurred were, however, mostly informal, and were ostensibly intended to announce the presence of various Viking chiefs and maritime travelers in the region. Other Runic writings tell elaborate and resplendent tales of mythology and history with poetic formality. The presence of a system of writing that was widespread throughout this large geographic area leads one to question the notion of early Germanic barbarism.

Although slight variations in the appearance of the Runic alphabet evolved over the centuries, a formal written standard has been isolated. It is an incredibly practical script that can be easily used and learned by laymen to write the many sounds of the proto-German language. Some forms of "short-hand" and more informal Runic writing have also been found across wide ranges. The greatest diversity in Runic alphabets exists in Sweden. The Runic alphabet is often called “Fuþark” (pronounced FOO-Tark) because of the Runes that are usually treated as the first letters of the alphabet (F, U, Th, A, R, K). The so-called “Elder Fuþark” that was more prevalent in Scandinavia seems to have been used mostly by educated aristocrats and grandees in the early centuries after Christ, whilst “Younger Fuþark” became popularized later during the Viking period. Nearly all of the regional variants of Runic are nearly mutually intelligible, intimating a high level of shared development of the script across the Germanic world.

Although Runic was phased out during the process of Christianization and the proliferation of a Latin-based system of writing among the Germanic peoples, the Runes themselves survived even outside of Scandinavia. The Icelandic alphabet today still uses the ancient Rune of Thor in their "th" sound (þ), as did Anglo-Saxon (Old English) for many centuries after the Germanic Anglo-Saxons settled England. The first written language of the Germans after Runic has been traced to the Gothic Alphabet, invented by the Gothic German priest Ulfilas in the 4th century. His invented alphabet, intended to initiate the conversion of the Odinist Goths to Christendom for reading the Bible, was a meticulous mixing of Greek letters and Runes. The fact that the Goths, who lived in southern Germany and the northwestern Balkans, used the almost identical Runic writing as the Norwegians and Swedes implies that the ancient barbaric Germans expressed a greater manifestation of civilization than is popularly believed.

Elder Futhark was the early form that seems to have spread from Sweden since the much later forms of Swedish Runes are still similar to the Elder form.

A chart of the typical changes in the later Younger Futhark's Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian variants. Because Swedish variants remained most close to the original Elder Futhark, this reinforces the probability that the origin of Runes was in Sweden.

In some cases, the individual Runes themselves were attributed with religious significance or representation. This springs from the fact that the Runes were believed to have been conceived by the “High One” Odin himself with specific religious and ritual attributes. Unfortunately, with the growth of modern “pagan” and “New Age” movements that derive many of their myths from ancient Germanic religion have devised elaborate emotional and cosmic effects that are imbued upon each Rune with no historical legitimacy whatsoever. Historians and anthropologists have been unable to determine a traditional significance to each Rune. It is likely that worshippers employed ad hoc ritual significance to Runes when necessary. For example, if a charismatic myth circulated in a region that the god of fertility Freyjr bestowed a great harvest, a mystic may then rely upon the Rune of Freyjr to propitiate famine. In the following village, if Freyjr were extolled for granting a bounty of children, a worshipper may use the same Rune for that very different attribute. Therefore, it is difficult to describe the spiritual significance of each Rune. What can most likely be agreed on is that letters of the Runic alphabet that corresponded to the first letters of gods' names almost always referred to those gods. The "O" letter always refers to Odin, whilst the "Th" always to Thor. Only in the Edda, our major source of pre-Christian pan-Germanic religion, do we see verbose descriptions on Runes and their meanings from the mouth of Odin himself (or the pen of Snorri Sturlusson) in the chapter "Havamal" (Words of the High One):

“Runes you will find, and readable staves,
Very strong staves,
Very stout staves,
Staves that Bolthor stained,
Made by mighty powers,
Graven by the prophetic God.

[...]

The first charm I know is unknown to rulers
Or any of human kind;
Help it is named,
for help it can give
In hours of sorrow and anguish.

I know a second that the sons of men
Must learn who wish to be leeches.

I know a third: in the thick of battle,
If my need be great enough,
It will blunt the edges of enemy swords,
Their weapons will make no wounds.

I know a fourth:
it will free me quickly
If foes should bind me fast
With strong chains, a chant that makes
Fetters spring from the feet,
Bonds burst from the hands.

I know a fifth: no flying arrow,
Aimed to bring harm to men,
Flies too fast for my fingers to catch it
And hold it in mid-air.

I know a sixth:
It will save me if a man
Cut runes on a sapling' s roots
With intent to harm; it turns the spell;
The hater is harmed, not me.
If I see the hall
Ablaze around my bench mates,
Though hot the flames,
They shall feel nothing,
If I choose to chant the spell.

I know an eighth:
That all are glad of,
Most useful to men:
If hate fester in the heart of a warrior,
It will soon calm and cure him.

I know a ninth:
When need I have
To shelter my ship on the flood,
The wind it calms, the waves it smoothes
And puts the sea to sleep

I know a tenth:
If troublesome ghosts
Ride the rafters aloft,
I can work it so they wander astray,
Unable to find their forms,
Unable to find their homes.

I know an eleventh:
When I lead to battle old comrades in-arms,
I have only to chant it behind my shield,
And unwounded they go to war,
Unwounded they come from war,
Unscathed wherever they are

I know a twelfth:
If a tree bear
A man hanged in a halter,
I can carve and stain strong runes
That will cause the corpse to speak,
Reply to whatever I ask.

I know a thirteenth
If I throw a cup of water over a warrior,
He shall not fall in the fiercest battle,
Nor sink beneath the sword,

I know a fourteenth, that few know:
If I tell a troop of warriors
About the high ones, Elves and Gods,
I can name them one by one.

I know a fifteenth,
That first Thjodrerir
Sang before Delling's doors,
Giving power to Gods, prowess to Elves,
Fore-sight to Hroptatyr Odin,

I know a sixteenth:
If I see a girl
With whom it would please me to play,
I can turn her thoughts, can touch the heart
Of any white armed woman.

I know a seventeenth:
If I sing it,
The young girl will be slow to forsake me.
I know an eighteenth that I never tell
To maiden or wife of man,
A secret I hide from all
Except the love who lies in my arms,
Or else my own sister (“Havamal”, Nordic Edda)

Note that nowhere else in the ancient Germanic textual sources do we see specific significance being connected with specific Runes. It is inevitable that Runes were engraved upon bones, wood, stones, and gems and used by Odinic shamans and priests for religious purposes. Clearing evil spirits, endowing divine protection from the war gods Thor and Tyr, propitiating the gods' rage, and predicting an uncertain future are typical. Fertility rites were also important among all early societies, and many of the Runes seem to have had fertility purposes. Much of the religiosity in Scandinavia, as reported to us by Adam von Bremen (an Anglo-Saxon Christian), centered around fertility cults of Freyjr and Freyja. It can be assumed that fertility Runes were likely placed on personal altars and shrines in private homes prior to intercourse to maximize chances of conception.

One interesting feature of the Runic alphabet is that most of the major German pantheonic gods had their own Runes. Odin had the Othala/Odal Rune for the letter “O,” Thor the Thorn (Þ,þ) for the sound “Th,” Tyr the “T,” and Baldur, Freyjr, and Heimdal may have had the “B,” “F,” and “H,” respectively. It is likely that these religious symbols were designed before the formal alphabet was developed for writing, and the writing system developed from these unique symbols. Predictably, the Runes were used to channel the divine favor and blessings of the particular gods when their specific functions became needed (in times of war, conception, studies, etc.). Although today an Asatru convert may find charts of exact symbolic meanings of each Rune on various New Age websites, it is impossible to know the exact historical significance of each of the Runes or how they evolved.

Odin next to the Odin Rune. This specific Rune had religious significance and evolved into the Runic letter for the sound "O."

Thor had his own Rune that evolved into the sound "Th." In the Icelandic alphabet today, the letter is still used for the same sound.

Tyr's Rune is similar to an arrow. Tyr and Thor are arguably the oldest of the Germanic Pantheon, and worship of Thor seems to have occurred from Germany to Finland if some theories are correct of a common origin of the thunder god Ukko. The Rune then evolved into the letter "T."

Possible origins of the Runic alphabet in relation to other civilizations:

Historians have difficulty tracing the Runic alphabet back to its origins. It is likely that Runic inscriptions go back at least a century or more than the available evidence we have found so far due to the fact that most inscriptions were probably written on perishable wood (which was considered holy) or even written in the dirt as a vehicle for connecting with nature and the earth. It is also likely that the "Runic alphabet" actually was first used at least a century after the Runes themselves were invented. In other words, the significance and meaning of Runes may have been simply transferred from religious purposes to writing as settled civilizations developed in Scandinavia. Historians have been able to trace the earliest available forms of Runic writing to the 3rd century, at least 250CE [1]. Other sources trace them back at least a century prior [2]. Elaborate and artistic Runic inscriptions with an intelligible meaning can be found on the resplendent Gallehus horns of 4th or 5th century Denmark that say, "I Hlegast, son of Holt, made this horn."

Historians have had difficulty determining which culture created the writing system and whether or not it derived from the vulgar Latin writing of the Roman Empire. Previously, most scholars readily assumed that the alphabet derived from Latin. Surely, some letters have a similar appearance. One salient scholar traces only four Runes to a possible Latin origin, but determines that the Runic alphabet is not merely a Roman import or derived from Latin because the other twelve Runes have absolutely no connection to symbols outside of the Germanic culture [3]. Scholars also point out that almost no use of Runes existed in southern Germany -- where cultural contacts with the Romans were more frequent -- until centuries after it had long achieved relative formality in Scandinavia [4]. As a result, the Runic alphabet is entirely an invention of the Germanic cultures independent of Roman civilization. It is possible to argue that Runes were later influenced by Latin as trade networks expanded between Germany and Rome, but this argument is hindered by the fact that very few reforms occurred on Runic over the centuries that had any increasing resemblance to Latin. For these reasons, it seems that Runic was invented almost spontaneously outside of the empire's reaches.

Most Runes have been traced to Sweden, where an eclectic array of simplified forms percolated throughout Denmark and Norway. Due to this frequency, it is likely that the original Runic standard was invented in Sweden. The originator is not known. According to the theory of euhemerism, mythological tales and figures derive at least partially from historic fact. For example, Odin may have been a legitimate historical chieftain in ancient Scandinavia or Germany who, upon his death, became deified as a god much like Alexander the Great and Octavian were. Since the Edda sources attribute the creation of Runes to Odin (see above), it is theoretically possible that at least the foundations of Runes may have been developed by an ancient Swedish chieftain identified as Odin. This, of course, is pure theory that cannot be proven or disproven. Additionally, there seems to have been a far greater veneration of the wise god Odin in Sweden and Scandinavia than in Germany, where the god of war Tyr was the primary target of worship. This amplified focus on the characteristics of wisdom, knowledge, and Runes in Sweden may imply that Sweden possessed a nascent and primitive form of a literary and developed community from which Runes emanated throughout Northern Europe with the historic human Odin as its legitimate ancestor. This possibility is strengthened by many ancient sources' depictions of huge centers of pilgrimage and worship with elaborate hierarchies, rituals, and gold-swaddled temples with a priestly cast of Godis (Odinic priests), especially in the Swedish temple of Uppsala. This may have been the birthplace of the Germanic peoples' independent system of writing.

An early illustration of Adam von Bremen's report of Odinic sacrifice in Uppsala, Sweden

Some Runic letters do bear mysterious similiarity to other systems of writing in the ancient world. This is in part because stone and wood only allow very simple and straight lines due to the difficulty of etching or carving curved symbols. Only on paper and papyrus, written in China and Egypt respectively, were scripts of very curved and ornate forms possible. As a result, many of these societies that only used stone or wood will inherently have similar-looking writing systems. Therefore, the fact that the letters of remote Central Asia (Orkhon "Runes") and the Hungarian Runes from the far away Ural mountains look similar to Germanic Runic is likely inconsequential.

Another major theory that the Germanic Runic writing system derived from other written civilizations is that of the North Italic peoples. The ancient Etruscans and other Italian tribes in the north of Italy had written languages and elaborate cultures that predated the foundations of the Roman Republic. Most scholars who aver that the German Runes derived from foreign origin consider the North Italic scripts to be the likely source. One scholar believes that any partial derivation from North Italic letters to a new German form must have occurred in the first centuries BCE before being taken north by the Cimbri and Teutones back to Denmark [7]. It is impossible or impossible to disprove this. However, it is unlikely to be the case because of a variety of factors: 1) most North Italic scripts were relatively phased out by the time of the creation of the Runic alphabet, and what little remained were largely subsumed under the Latin-writing Roman hegemon; 2) Runes appear hundreds of kilometers away in Scandinavia centuries before they appear anywhere near Italy; 3) the Etruscans and North Italic tribes, who wrote on stone, were limited in the angles and shapes of letters they could produce in the same way that the Germans were, and thus inevitably looked similar. In addition, only very few of the Runic letters have any similarity to the German ones. As a result, it seems again likely that the Germanic Runes were an independent invention of relatively spontaneous origin.

Another strange phenomenon is the existence of the so-called “Hungarian Runes.” The Hungarians (Magyars) migrated from central Russia/the Urals from the 9th century onward into the Hungarian Steppe of Central Europe, and their origin has been highly speculated. Their system of writing appears to have been a script strikingly similar to Germanic Runes. Upon their king Istvan's conversion to Catholicism in the 11th century, all of their pre-Christian "Runic" alphabet was abolished in favor of the Latin script. It is possible that the Hungarians borrowed this writing system from stateless German settlers or villagers east of Germany who they met on their eventual fateful way to Hungary. So too, the pagan Hungarians were one of the most contumacious and assiduous rivals of unified Germany (the First Reich) under King Heinrich the Fowler and Kaiser Otto the Great of the 10th and 11th centuries, the latter having obliterated their armies at Lechfeld. This may imply a possible contact between the two civilizations by which Germanic Runes spread to the Hungarians, who created a Hungarian analogue. This is, of course, purely theoretical. The similarities may be entirely coincidence. What is certain is that the German Runes did not derive from the Hungarian "Runes" due to the fact that the German writing system predates the Hungarian migrations towards Germany by over 400 years.

So-called Hungarian and Etruscan Runes. Etruscan is similar to Runic only in the superficial appearance. Few commonalities can be drawn to Runic. Hungarian Runes, however, are strikingly similar in many ways that make it arguable that Hungarians borrowed an alphabet from the Germans when settling in Central Europe. Because Germanic Runes existed long before Hungarian migration, it cannot be such that Germans borrowed from Hungarians. Note that only a few Etruscan letters are shown here because Etruscan is still untranslatable, and many symbols are used for many different sounds.

There is another theory for the origin of both Runic and Hungarian Runes referred to as “Orkhon Runes” or Central Asian Turkic Runes. 7th-century inscriptions have been found throughout western Mongolia and Siberia with bizarrely familiar symbols that are common to German and Hungarian Runes. The Life Rune, the Swastika, and even the distinctly Germanic Othala Rune of Odin seem to have been used in Central Asia as well. These Runes probably belong to the Turkic populations west of Mongolia, and were likely borrowed from the earlier Sodgian alphabet of their Iranian predecessors. Although it is reasonable to believe that early Turkic and Iranian peoples had contact with Germanic peoples, the fact that the earliest Turkic or Central Asian Runes date from the 9th century – nearly a thousand years after German Runes were being developed – implies that the Germanic Runes are unrelated. It is unusual that the Othala Rune, a very uniquely German symbol, would appear in the desolate plains of the east thousands of miles away, but it is likely no more than coincidence as proven by the independent appearance of the Swastika all over the world's ancient cultures.

See these articles written by a Turkish historian claiming that many Germanic Runestones and inscriptions were actually of Central Asian Turkic origin, emphasizing a supposed link between the two ethnos: [1] [2] (Thanks to Murat Sezen)

Orkhon Runes from Central Asia, which are likely Turkic instead of Mongol design and derived from Iranian Sogdian script, has the most similarities to Germanic Runes next to Hungarian Runes. The Life Rune and the Odin Rune are both present.

Runestones throughout the world:

Runestones are large stone landmarks and way-signs engraved with Runic inscriptions that date back over 1,500 years. Typically, metal and stone tools were used to carve indentations into the rock face, and paint or dye was smeared into the recesses to leave a lasting imprint. A major problem with evidence is that thousands of Runestones were destroyed for their pagan, non-Christian roots by the Christian authorities of Olaf Tryggvasson of Norway and other proponents of the new faith in Scandinavia. So too, the very wet, damp climate of Scandinavia makes seaside stones with Runic inscriptions prone to moss and fungus growth that quickly erases the Runes. Many Runestones have been discovered by accident near private homes. As a result, evidence important to historians may exist of which we are as yet unaware. We may therefore never know exactly how developed, civilized, and literate German societies were prior to the adoption of Christendom.

Predictably, the history of prolific conquest in the Viking age saw the spread of the Runic alphabet and Runic inscriptions throughout the non-Germanic world. Runestones have been found in France, Ireland, Scotland, the Baltic, and may have even spread to Russia and the Middle East, where Vikings traded with native peoples and probably exchanged “useless” Runic-inscribed artisanry for goods. The vast majority of Runestones outside the Germanic world date from the 7th-10th centuries, precisely the Viking Age that ended with the Christianization of Scandinavia (the last Germanic region to be converted). It is possible that Vikings left Runic inscriptions in Canada, where Vikings were the first modern Europeans to discover the New World (500 years before Columbus). Some monuments in Minnesota and the American Northeast claim to have ancient Runic artifacts, but this is largely assumed to be a farce. Since Germanic settlement in North America was so brief and ephemeral, it is unlikely that Vikings struggling to survive would take the time to write elaborate historical documents on Runestones. However, Iceland, from which the Nordic settlers in America came on their way from Greenland to Canada, were among the most literate of the Germanic peoples in Runic and in Odinic religious tradition. As a result, many Runic relics invaluable to our understanding of ancient Germanic culture is likely lost.

Most Runestones are very simple, and include imagery such as ships, animals, hunting rites, and only a few actual Runes. Most do not actually include any actual message whatsoever in the Runic alphabet. Instead, they include individual Runes intended to honor specific gods (such as Odin or Thor) or to channel the spiritual significance of each Rune (such as protection or reinforcing the king's authority). Some Runestones in Sweden especially have elaborate poetry and stories with intricate artwork, as seen below. Others describe alliance and trade bonds, family triumphs, and Odinist prayers. Most Runestones available for viewing today are incredibly faded and difficult to read. Although the original pan-Germanic language has evolved into regional dialects such as Norwegian and today's German, any speaker of Icelandic or even German can understand many Runic writings.

Odin on his 6-legged horse Schleipnir on a Runestone

(from library.hartsem.edu)

(from http://www.wonderquest.com/english2-big-changes.htm)

(from Odinsvolk.ca)

(from solarnavigator.com)

The Runes and Runic alphabet as embraced by racialist pan-Germanic nationalists and the Nazis:

The Runic alphabet, having been for the most part subsumed under the respective nations' evolved Christian cultures with their Latin-based scripts for nearly 1,000 years, made a significant comeback in the late 19th century in Germany, Austria, and Scandinavia. As an intense racial and cultural nationalism proliferated throughout most European cultures, the Germanic peoples -- despite over 1,000 years of divergent histories and often war with each other -- began to emphasize their shared genetic heritage. Runes became synonymous with a romanticized ancient Germanic bloodline. For many Germans, the Runes signified the longstanding historical and cultural heritage of reunified Germany (the Second Reich of 1871 under Bismarck). For others of the racialist far-right (whose ideology quickly became the dominant belief in Germany), the Runes signified an ethereal proof of the semi-divide origin of the Germanic or Aryan race. Many bizarre mystics considered the Germans to be descended from a race of giants or gods who directly came to earth before being polluted by mixing with inferior races, especially the Jews. The Runes were thus the ancient language of Heaven. Others, like Adolf Hitler, dismissed these ridiculous mystical claims, but acknowledged the Germans and their Runic language as proof of an inherently superior "culture-creating" race of civilization-builders to contrast from the "culture-bearing" races. Although according to sources Hitler had little interest in Runes and this occult frivolity, the ultranationalist racialism of the Third Reich made Runes retain a semi-divine association. Heinrich Himmler, the second-in-command and leader of the Nazi SS, considered Runes to be the mystical and holy writing system of the revived ancient Germanic religion that combined National Socialism with the defunct Odinism. Although these ideological-religious concepts are exaggerated and often breathtakingly ridiculous, Germany's claim to a common descent from the Nordic peoples, the ancient Nordic religion, and the Runes was completely legitimate, as illustrated above.

The first Germanic racialist-nationalist to imbue ancient Runes with a religious significance was Guido von List of Austria in the 19th century. For more thorough analysis of this bizarre process of racialist-religious occultism, please read Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke's quick and excellent The Occult Roots of Nazism. Von List's consciousness of the Germanic peoples' shared Nordic and Runic heritage proliferated to increasingly-popular nationalist groups in Germany, Denmark, and Friesland (the Netherlands). The former priest von Liebenfels employed Runes as a perceived proof for the natural, biological creativity and superiority of the Germanic knights and orders. Many obsessed ultra-nationalist mystics believed that the Runes were a magical language that, if unlocked, would imbue Germany with the power to dominate the world, consign the lesser races of the world to subjugated slavery, and unlock the god-powers of their heavenly ancestors [5]. Some nationalist mystics, who joined chivalrous societies based upon the German Teutonic Order and the Knights Templar, practiced magical "Runic gymnastics" like yoga in which they would mold their bodies in the shapes of Runes to gain spiritual energy. From this perspective, the Runes of the 3rd century CE were portrayed as the impetus to all civilizations' cultural, linguistic, and literary creativity. Of course, this is absurd.

The Swastika is a symbol of obvious significance. It appears all across the world with a completely unrelated origin: in India and Southeast Asia, it symbolizes good luck and positive reincarnation, whilst in Scandinavia and Germany, ancient Runes symbolized the sun and its all-pervasive power and strength. The Swastika symbol appeared in ancient Germany without any derivation from India. In Germany, this Rune became popular as a result of many theories: one theory emphasizes the occult bond of the nationalist Nazis with Indian theosophical mystic movements; others aver that Hitler chose the symbol because of its mesmerizing effect; others note that the "Swastika" was indeed an ancient Rune that had nothing to do with the Indian Swastika. The actual origin of the Swastika is a source of eclectic dispute.

Runes played a significant part in the German ideology of the Third Reich (1933-45). Runic symbology functioned as tools of propaganda that instilled in the Germans a feeling of a spiritual connection with their ancient bloodline, one that according to Nazi ideology gave them the right to dominate lesser races. The SS, the elite legions of the state, adorned their helmets with the ancient Rune corresponding to the "S" lightning bolt of the Runic alphabet that signified strength and dominance. The SS, which adopted National Socialist ideology to create a pseudo-religion that blended Christian monotheism with ancient Odinism, founded a headquarters at the mysterious Medieval castle of Wewelsburg, an obscure and deeply eerie location that I was fortunate enough to see myself (my photos are shown below). On the floor of the main hall, a massive sun-wheel can be seen etched into the marble floor that is based upon a radiating Swastika Rune. In another room in the dungeon that was intended to function as a type of holy shrine to the deceased heroes of the Third Reich and ancient German history, a huge luminous Swastika Rune can be seen on the ceiling (see my photo of it below). Official SS rings (pictured below) included the Tyr rune (the letter "T"), the Runic Swastika, and the sun-wheel. The "life" Rune (the letter "Y") was frequently used to symbolize the Germanic World Tree Yggdrasil and the beauty of healthy reproduction, and has been recently used by neo-Nazi groups to symbolize the presciousness of white children (new life).

As is apparent, the ancient Germanic Runes were reinvested with religious significance by the pan-Germanic nationalists after 1,000 years of historical pause upon the end of the Viking era. Although the Germans' claim to this ancient heritage is fully legitimate, it is undeniable that the Nazis warped their original meanings into unrelated modern associations. Heinrich Himmler believed that the Runes would ensure the mastery of the Reich over Europe, and hoped that the Edda texts of Medieval Iceland would guide him to alleviate Germany's dire situation in their war against the Soviets. One source even claims that he sought to bring Thor's mythological hammer into reality as a lightning weapon or tesla coil to defeat new Soviet tanks [6].

The Thule Society (Thule-Gesellschaft) was the early occult group that in part gave rise to Nazi symbology in Germany. Runic and pre-Christian Germanic religion were revered. Many scholars believe Hitler and the National Socialists derived their ideology from this group's occult polemics.

My photo of Heinrich Himmler's official documents, alongside two SS Runes, from the obscure and rarely-seen Wewelsburg castle, headquarters of the SS. (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

My photo of a diagram of the official SS ring, complete with the Swastika, Lightning Bolt, and Sun-wheel, and Tyr Runes from the official SS Wewelsburg headquarters. (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

My personal photo of the radiant sun-like Swastika on the ceiling of the venerated tomb-shrine of the SS. (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

My photo of a wall-diagram depicting the sun-wheel Rune (on which the German Swastika was based) on the floor of the main hall in the SS headquarters of Wewelsburg. Photography of the Rune itself is not allowed due to entropy. (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

The influence of Runes today, symbols of popular culture and "New Age" movements

After World War II, the Allies occupying Axis Germany, Hungary, Austria, and Italy made most “racist” symbols illegal. As the Nazis employed Runes like that of Odin and the SS bolt Runes, both symbols are intensely eschewed by the modern governments despite those symbol's integral part in early Germanic history that originally had no association with any genocides until it was adopted by the Nazis. The Swastika, for obvious reasons, is banned. The Hungarians, who actively participated with Hitler's Germany in the war and, following the seizure of power by the Hungarian Arrow Cross nationalists in 1944, adopted ancient Hungarian "Runes" whilst expelling and murdering its hated Gypsy and Jewish populations. As a result, the Arrow Cross "Rune" is banned in Hungary as well. Modern-day Asatruars (Odin-worshippers/heathens/pagans), even in the rare cases that they do not adhere to racialist ideologies, are still forbidden to express the government-protected right to religious expression because of the Runes' association with the crimes of the Nazi legacy. Finnish and Estonian culture have used their analogue of the Swastika for millennia on their flags and standards and even airplanes (see the flag below), and continued to do so during their alliance with Hitler during World War II and even today. Although it was attached to fervent Finnish ethnic nationalism, it has escaped the association with genocide because of the Finns' lack of involvement in the crimes committed by their allies in Germany, Hungary, and Romania.

Over the last 50 years, Runes have since become attached with the racialist, white nationalist, and Neo-Nazi movements in America and Europe. The Othala Rune of Odin, the Life Rune, the Thorn, and the Swastika (obviously) are particularly common among skinhead groups like the Aryan Nations and National Alliance. The National Alliance uses the "Y" Rune of the World Tree to express their adoration for white children. Other Odinic symbols, such as the triple-triangle of Odin (Valknut) are common. For this reason, Runes are typically discouraged for their racist association today, and the Runes themselves have moved away from being religious symbols, icons of ancient Germanic heritage, or a writing system to one of symbolic racism. Although some Asatruars (syncretic New Age “Odinists”) claim to be non-racialist and tolerant, the rebirth of pre-Christian Germanic religion is almost universally complimented by racialist idea in Germanic blood, purity, and freedom from the “taint” of foreign races' cultural influences (like the Semites' religion of Jesus Christ). The Church of Odin or Asatruarfelagid (see their official religion's website here) is an officially-recognized church in the Lutheran-dominated nation of Iceland today, and includes thousands of adherents. As a result, the expression of Runes is a seriously controversial issue in Germany and Scandinavia today.

The Runic alphabet is also used for other obscure and irrelevant purposes. Because of the incredibly practical and simple nature of the Runic alphabet that can be used when writing anything from Hungarian to English, many sub-cultures and New Age groups that have nothing to do with Germandom use the Runic alphabet as a secret and esoteric language. It is very easy to memorize. Even Satanist cults have been found to use Runic for their Satanic rituals because no relevant language exists or they are only capable of learning simple systems like Runic (“Pact with the Devil,” Investigation Discovery Channel).

In conclusion, so few even realize how prevalent and influential the Runic and pre-Christian Germanic culture is. Longstanding reliance upon inherently biased and discriminatory Roman sources have given the early Germans an image of barbarism. Hopefully, the information presented in this article has articulated that the Germanic people of the early 1st millennium were far more cultivated and creative than we are currently able to appreciate given our available source material. Influences manifest in daily life almost undetected. Almost all the rituals of modern Christmas -- holly, mistletoe, the tree, lights and food, feasting rituals of pork and alcohol, and the Yule log tradition directly came from pre-Christian Germanic tradition that the Germanic Anglo-Saxons passed to the English-speaking world. Even the symbol for the Danish company Bluetooth is a combination of two Runes, and refers to the Odinist unifier of Viking Denmark Harald Bluetooth (although he converted to Christianity before his death). Excluding Saturday (from the Roman god Saturn), all of the days of the week understood throughout the Germanic- and English-speaking world derive from gods of the pre-Christian Germanic religion: Monday (Mon's Day), Tuesday (Tue/Tyr's), Wednesday (Wedne/Woden/Odin's), Thursday/Donnerstag (Thor's Day or Thunder Day), Friday/Freitag (Frey's), and Sunday (the day of the sun god). The many elf languages of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, written by the Germanic romantic J.R.R. Tolkein, derive completely from Runic, as does most of the entire saga itself. The Icelandic alphabet today still includes the Thor rune for the same sound, and thousands of families have the names Thor or Thorsson. Nearly all fantasy novels, games, and Role-Playing Games (RPGs), especially Blizzard's best-selling Diablo II and Warcraft, are all tremendously derived from ancient Germanic culture, religion, mythology, and directly use Runestones as bearers of magical properties. The full resplendence and historical influence of ancient Germanic religion, culture, and its articulated literary expression (Runes) cannot sufficiently be appreciated as long as we continue to base our understanding of history on obsolescent and one-sided sources from the Roman perspective.

The Odin Rune has been used after the war for racist purposes, as seen here. This flag was not used during World War II at all.

Finland used the Swastika on its flag when it was part of the Axis in World War II. Although it did not originally have anything to do with the typical German meaning, racist ideology pervaded in all of Europe during the war and especially in Axis nations. Finnish culture -- even before its near-universal adoption of Germanic culture during Swedish Lutheran rule -- shares much in common with early Germanic traditions even in its folklore, such as in the Kalevala. Although Finns today effectively have a Germanic/Scandinavian culture, most believe that they descend from a distinct Finno-Ugric group.

The ubiquitous logo of the modern Bluetooth company. This is a combination of two Runes. "Bluetooth" is named after Harald Bluetooth, the first Christian-Viking king of unified Denmark in the 9th century.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

James Mayfield is a historian and the Chairman of the European Heritage Library. I have a Cum Laude BA in History with a Minor in Germanic Studies (language and history), am presently working for my Masters in History, and plan to immediately progress to my PhD Doctorate. I have a special academic interest in Europe's diverse ethnic identities, languages, and cultures, and the political struggles of native European and immigrant minority identities. See my staff entry for more information.

BIBLIOGRAPHY/SOURCES USED:

[1] Pringle, Heather. The Master Plan: Himmler's Scholars and the Holocaust. New York: Hyperion Books, 2006. Page 59.

[2] Todd, Malcolm. The Early Germans. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2004. Page 117.

[3] Todd, Malcolm. The Early Germans. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2004. Page 118.

[4] Todd, Malcolm. The Early Germans. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2004. Page 14.

[5] Pringle, Heather. The Master Plan: Himmler's Scholars and the Holocaust. New York: Hyperion Books, 2006. Page 55.

[6] Pringle, Heather. The Master Plan: Himmler's Scholars and the Holocaust. New York: Hyperion Books, 2006. Page 282.

[7] Derry, T. K. History of Scandinavia. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press, 1979. Page 11.

Goodrick-Clarke, Nicholas. The Occult Roots of Nazism: Secret Aryan Cults and their Influence on Nazi Ideology. London: I.B. Tauris and Co: 1992.

"Pact with the Devil," Investigation Discovery Channel

Asatruarfelagid, official Odinist church of Iceland. See their website.

The Poetic Edda. Translated by Lee M. Hollander. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 1962.

Omniglot.com for research information and many comparative scripts

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