✓3A.1 & 3A.2 - Runes and picture stones

Question 1

We find runes mostly in…

Answer 1

wood, metals, bone and clay

Question 2

The words of Runa means

Answer 2

secrecy, something whispered

Question 3

What is fuþark?

Answer 3

form of the runic alphabets.

Question 4

today, there are 3 corpora, one each for

Answer 4

Norway, Sweden & Denmark

Question 5

Explain the Older fuþark

Answer 5

It was in use until the 6th century. You have 3 so-called families or ættir with 8 runes each. we also have some runic names which rise from the acrophonic principle (names begin with the sound represented by the rune)

Question 6

ᚦ - thyth - þurisaz

Answer 6

ogre
(first ætt)

Question 7

ᚨ - aza - ansuz

Answer 7

heathen god
(first ætt)

Question 8

ᛃ - gaar - jēran

Answer 8

year, harvest
(second ætt)

Question 9

ᛊ - sugil - sōwilō

Answer 9

sun
(second ætt)

Question 10

ᛏ - tyz - Tīwaz

Answer 10

the god Týr, glory, victory
(third ætt)

Question 11

ᛜ - enguz - Ingwaz

Answer 11

the (royal?) god Ing
(third ætt)

Question 12

ᛟ - utal - ōþilan

Answer 12

homeland, ancestral property

Question 13

Explain the younger fuþark

Answer 13

It is from the 6th century onward. It has only 1 ætt við 6 runes and 2 ættir with 5 runes each. There we lost for instance homeland.

Question 14

Þ - þurs

Answer 14

ogre
(first ætt)

Question 15

ᚭ - áss

Answer 15

heathen god
(first ætt)

Question 16

ᛅ/ᛆ - ár

Answer 16

year, harvest
(second ætt)

Question 17

ᛋ - sól

Answer 17

sun
(second ætt)

Question 18

ᛏ - Týr

Answer 18

(the god) Týr
(third ætt)

Question 19

The Latin Origin

Answer 19

• Based on Latin capital script
• Based on Latin capital script with Ogham
  as mediator
• Based on Latin cursive script
• Self-creation which is partly based on Latin
  script

The theory is that it is of latin origin, basically that the runes originate in latin script and then the latin script was taken up for instance through the roman qonquest in Germany and then was altered to fit a writing system that was mostly done for hard material. One scholar thinks that runes could have originated from roman cursives script. Within the latin origin you get several somethings, one scholar says it is based on latin capital script and others say it’s latin cursive script. And others may say that it could been based on Latin script but then they did something and made it their thing.

Question 20

The Greek Origin

Answer 20

Some scholars say that it is based on:
- Classical Greek alphabet
- Greek Cursive Script (discarded)
- Archaic Greek alphabet of 600 BCE

Question 21

The North-Etruskan Origin

Answer 21

Some scholars say that it is based on:
- North-Etruskan alphabet
- North-Etruskan alphabet in connection with pre-runic sense signs

Question 22

Origin - when?

Answer 22

Largely depended on dating of evidence. Changes in chronology and tendency to date early may have an impact.

Time gap between emergence of runes and first evidence as they were initially carved on organic material (however, well preserved in bogs)

Question 23

Origin - Where?

Answer 23

Largely depended on which origin theory is favoured
Latin? Greek? North-Etruskan? Punic-Phoenician?

Question 24

Origin - Who?

Answer 24

Unclear

Question 25

Origin - WHy?

Answer 25

to guard/strengthen the weapon or bearer, to weaken enemies,
apotropaic usage to cure ailments,
profane use: ‘I own this’; ‘I made this’
‘meaningless’ inscriptions?

Question 26

Cipher runes (5 types):

Answer 26

1. twig/branch runes (also hahal runes)
2. fish runes
3. tent runes
4. bind runes (bandrún)
5. other variants

Question 27

Picture stones: how many monuments and how many shapes?

Answer 27

Over 400 monuments.
3 shapes.

Question 28

The Gotland Monuments: Type A

Answer 28

(lítur út smá eins og hurð í laginu)

Question 29

The Gotland Monuments: Type B

Answer 29

(minnsta shapeið)

Question 30

The Gotland Monuments: Type C/D

Answer 30

(lítur út eins og typpi)

Question 31

The Gotland Monuments: Type E

Answer 31

Hogrän og Sjonhem