Divination Series - Part 7 - Runes (Part A) - History of, and Types of, Rune Sets

Ah, Runes. Admittedly not my more favored form of divination, as I don't feel it gives answers/guidance in the form that I seek it. But for many people, runes are the way! 

"Runes are the mystical alphabet used by ancient European tribes 2000 years ago to name places and things, attract luck and fortune, provide protection, and magically divine the course of  future events.  Runes were carved or onto stone or wood.  The tools of the time such as the ax, knife, or chisel could not easily be used to form curved lines, so Runic letters were formed with straight lines only.  Virtually all of Europe used them at one time, but today they are best remembered for their use by the ancient Norse, The Vikings.  The oldest known form and arrangement of Runic letters, the Elder Futhark runes, are estimated by the British Museum to have been in use by the Vikings around 200 A.D.  Some believe it to be much earlier.  In Norse, the Elder Futhark is read from right to left.  "F U T H A R K" is the first 6 symbols of the Runic alphabet (note "th" is one letter).  The Runic alphabet is phonetic, each letter represents a sound, so double consonants are not used.  Words spelled with pp, dd, ll, etc. would be spelled using a single p, d, or l in Runes."-Source

(Shameless Self-Promotion time- Hand-Crafted 8-Piece Medieval Runes for Magick , and Healing Assorted Tumbled Gemstone 25-Piece Rune Set, 25-Piece Onyx Rune Set - I select only the stones with strongest vibrations, and charge them thoroughly before and after crafting)

Anyway, the history of runes is actually quite obscured. There are 4 working theories though, and I'm going to quote them from a Source which addresses the pros and cons of each one.

"The Roman Theory

This theory was first presented in 1874 by L.F.A. Wimmer and states that the runes are a result of the adaptation of the Roman (or Latin) alphabet. It is assumed that the ancient Germanic people, who came into contact with Roman culture through the invasion of the Teutones and Cimbri, were familiarized with the Roman written alphabet as early as the 2^nd century B.C.E. They then adapted the Roman alphabet into the runes and put it to use, spreading it by the means of trading routes into Scandinavian countries and then eastward from there.
The one thing that we need to watch in this theory is the fact that there is little evidence of the runes near Roman lands at such a time. However, the spread of the runes into Scandinavian countries and from there eastward may mean that the adaptation of the Roman alphabet wasn’t complete until the runes had begun to spread northward.

The Indigenous Theory

First put forward in 1896 by R.M. Meyer and popularized by National Socialist Germany, this theory states that the runes were an original “alphabet.” Not only were they said to be original but they were also said to have been the groundwork on which the Greek and Phoenician alphabets were created.
This theory no longer holds much value to it due to the fact that the earliest Phoenician writings can be dated back to around the 13^th or 12^th century B.C.E., while the earliest runic inscription dates back to the 1^st century C.E.

The Greek Theory

This theory was first stated in 1899 by Sophus Bugge and talks about how the ancient Germanic people adapted the Greek alphabet to create the runes. The theory goes that the Goths had come into contact with a cursive form of the Greek alphabet. The Goths then adapted the cursive form of that alphabet for their own use allowing the new alphabet to spread with them as they traveled.
There are problems with this theory, which have led it to be abandoned by many people. Again we see a fault in the times for this theory. The earliest the Goths would have been able to adapt such an alphabet is around 200 C.E. and the earliest runic inscription would have been earlier than that.

The North-Italic Theory

This theory by C.J.S. Marstrander in 1928 was strengthened in 1937 by Wolfgang Krause. The theory goes that the Germanic people living in the Alps came into contact with the North-Italic (or Etruscan) alphabet and adapted it. Then the Cimbri come into contact with the “new” alphabet and pass it on to the Suevi who carry the runes up the Rhine river to the North Sea, Jutland and beyond.
The only real “problem” with this scenario is that the encounter would have taken place two to three hundred before any runic inscriptions that are already dated. But this doesn’t mean that it couldn’t have happened. Items made of wood may have been carved with the runes and may have long since decayed."

More than theories, are types of Rune Sets. My happy little Source from above explains that this "is largely due to the history, travel and adaptation of the runes by different societies and cultures as they traveled around Europe."

This is obviously going to be broken into multiple posts, but the sets I plan to at least shed a glimmer of light on include:

• Anglo-Saxon and Frisian Rune Sets – Expanded versions of the Elder Futhark rune set totaling 28 runes staves for the Frisian runes and 29 staves for the Anglo-Saxon set.

• Armanen Rune Set – An 18 rune stave set created by Guido List. List claimed that this set was the “original rune set.”

• Elder Futhark Rune Set – Also known as the German or Viking rune set, the Elder futhark set contains 24 rune staves.

• Gothic Rune Set – This rune set of 25 staves was adapted from the Elder Futhark by a 4th century bishop for the use of writing Christian material.

• Medieval Runes of Healing and Magick Set – These 8 runes were never really used for writing but were mainly associated with gods and goddesses that were worshiped in secret during Christian times.

• Northumbrian Rune Set – This 33 rune stave collection was an extension of the Anglo-Saxon rune set adding 4 more runes to the already 29 rune set.

• Younger Futhork Rune Set – Around the 7th or 8th century the Elder futhark rune set was shortened to 16 runes to form two new sets collectively known as the Younger futhork.

So there ye be. In my next rune post I will go into detail on a few sets, and share with you a Rune Reading meant to be done only once in the lifetime.

Blessed Be!

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