What Are Runes?

Runes are the letters of Old Norse, an ancient Scandinavian writing system. They may have been written on many types of surface, but what has survived the ages has been writing on stone. More than 5,000 runic inscriptions remain, most of them in Sweden, particularly in the Uppland region. More than 1,000 have been found in Norway, about 700 in Denmark, 60 in Iceland, 50 in the British Isles, and others scattered from Greenland to the Ukraine. The claims of runestones found in Minnesota and even the Ozarks have been rejected as spurious.

Dating back to the 5^th century, many were carved as gravestones. Others tell of Viking voyages and raids to lands as far away as Greece. A few provide family history and identify land ownership. Some inscriptions were also connected to magic, notably divining the future. A runestone might tell a story, as does the 11^th century Sigurd Runestone in Sweden, which relates the myth of a dragon slayer alluded to in the Beowulf saga.

The shape of runes hints that they were designed to be carved with a blade or axehead. Lines are perpendicular, oblique and curved. While most extant runic inscriptions are carved, some bear traces of color, an indication that the runes were painted. Red, blue, yellow, white and black pigments have been discovered. Besides stones, runes have been found on ships, spears, amulets, and drinking horns.