Nordic Runes

by Lord Johan Bjornsson

Runic inscriptions are what is left of the voices and language of the Viking people.  They tell us 
their beliefs and social customs of the time.  These runes were carved on stones along with scenes 
describing events such as ceremonies or voyages.  These runes were created about the year 200 and 
consisted of 24 characters which were later shortened to sixteen.  This set of runes is called the 
Futhark.

The significance of the runes were that they had magickal powers. that could be released by the ones 
initiated as rune-masters.  The runic inscriptions were engraved on jewelry and other objects in a 
manner in which they could be hidden from view.  This was thought to make the magick work in secret 
for whatever purpose.  Typical places were behind women's brooches, inside scabbards, inside shield 
bosses, on the underside of tomes and the like.  These pre-Viking runes were not used as a language 
but instead as sacred, magick symbols.

Later these runes were being used as inscriptions and raised on memorials.  Such inscriptions could 
have been curses, or secret words.  Some were a form of number magick that was used by Norse 
rune-masters.  It was at this time when the rune-set was shortened to 16 characters.

This shortened rune-set took three separate paths, the first of which is Danish in origin and is 
called the "ordinary" runes.  The second set was typical of southern and western Sweden and Norway 
and the Isle of Man.  The third set was used in Northern Sweden.  The highest concentration of 
runestones found are from the period 950-1050.  Some 2,500 such runestones have been found in Sweden.

Most of the runestones tell of kings, chieftains, and warriors.  The stones often reveal the name of 
the one who crafted the stone and always had the name of the one for which the stone was raised.  
Some even had the name of the rune-master or the social position of the dead man.  Most tell of 
someone who has fallen in battle, but some tell of simple things such as road-making or 
bridge-building.  Many later runestones show some Christian influence.

Dragging a stone for another was common practice and thus many have curses inscribed against such 
acts.  The inscriptions about men typically emphasize the honourable and good things about them.  
Other typical inscriptions depict two qualities that the Vikings appreciated, these were hospitality 
and generosity.  Another valued quality inscribed on these stones is a landowner's readiness to use 
his men for public uses such as road-making or building bridges.  On many runestones the text is 
rythmical and appears with ornamental and decorative scenes such as curling scrolls, animals, and 
ships.  Evidence of paint on runestones was used to emphasize text and ornament.  Of these, yellow, 
red, and blue are most common.

Viking runestones have also been found in other countries besides Scandinavia.  They have been found 
in northern England, the Isle of Man, Ireland, Greece, and in Minnesota.

Some translated quotes from Viking runestones that typify what is common are:

"The Harald who conquered all Denmark and Norway and Christianized the Danes."

"King Swein raised this stone in memory of his housecarl, Skardi, who roamed the west but now has 
met his death at Hedeby."

"Raghild, Ulf's sister, raised this stone and constructed this mound, placing stones in the outline 
of a ship, in memory of her husband Gunnulf, a baying man, the son of Narfi.  Few men nowadays are 
better born than he.  A rati be he who destroys this stone or drags it from here."

"Raghild raised this stone in memory of Alli Solvi, priest of the most worthy pegn of the lio.  
The sons of Alli made this monument in memory of their father, and his wife in memory of her husband.
Soti carved these runes in memory of his lord; may Thor consecrate them.  A rati be he who destroys 
this stone or drags it for another.

"Freymund raised this stone in memory of Fr-Gylf, the son of Bresi, and Bresi was the son of Lini, 
and Lini the son of Aun, and Aun the son of Ofeig, and Ofeig the son of Thori."

"Jarabanki raised these stones in his own honour, while he was still alive, and made this bridge for
the good of his soul.  He was the sole owner of Taby.  May God help his soul."

"Ketil and Bjorn erected this stone in memory of Thorstein, the father, and Onund of his brother, and 
the housecarls of their equal, and Ketillaug of her husband.  These brothers were the best of men 
both in their homeland and away at the wars.  They looked after their housecarls.  He fell fighting 
in the east, in Russia.  He was in the forefront of battle, the best of countrymen."