RUNES

Vimose Comb (c. 160, considered the oldest datable

runic inscription): harja (Elder Futhark  in late Proto-

Germanic or early Proto-Norse)

EARLY RUNIC INSCRIPTIONSA bracteate from about AD 400 that features the charm

word alu with a depiction of a stylized male head, a horse, and a swastika, a common

motif on bracteates

The spearhead of Kovel (the early 3rd century)

EARLY RUNIC INSCRIPTION

Ring of Pietroassa (from between AD 250 to 400)

Considered as the example of Gothic runes

A Gothic language inscription in the Elder Futhark runic alphabet

The Björketorp Runestone (AD 500-700) located in Blekinge, Sweden

RUNESTONESThe Stentoften Runestone (AD 500-700) located in Blekinge, Sweden

The Istaby Runestone (AD 500-700) located in Blekinge,

Sweden

RUNESTONESAn illustration of the Gummarp Runestone (AD

500 to 700) from Blekinge, Sweden

The Franks Casket is a small Anglo-Saxon whale's bone chest (AD 700)

BODY OF RUNIC INSCRIPTIONS

the back panel and the lid

the front panel

Elder Futhark (2nd to 8th c.)

RUNIC ALPHABETS

The Kylver Stone (about AD 400) in Gotland, Sweden

RUNIC ALPHABETS

Gothic runes (… to 4th c.)

RUNIC ALPHABETS

Anglo-Saxon runes

(5th to 11th c.)

 The Thames scramasax is a 9th century Anglo-Saxon single-edged knife

RUNIC ALPHABETS

The Ruthwell Cross  is a stone Anglo-Saxon cross  from the 8th century

"Marcomannic runes" (8th to 9th c.)

RUNIC ALPHABETS

Younger Futhark (9th to 11th c.)

RUNIC ALPHABETS

the long-branch runesthe short-branch or Rök runes

the staveless or Hälsinge runes

Danish Futhark

RUNIC ALPHABETS

Swedish Futhark

Norwegian Futhark

The Younger Futhark, on the 9th-century Rök Runestone (the front of the stone) in Sweden

RUNIC ALPHABETSThe Younger Futhark, on the 9th-century Rök Runestone (the back of the stone) in Sweden

A Younger Futhark inscription on the 12th-century Vaksala Runestone in Sweden

RUNIC ALPHABETSRunestone Hs 12 by Hög church in Hälsingland, Sweden has staveless runes

Medieval runes (12th to 15th c.)

RUNIC ALPHABETS

One of the Bryggen inscriptions: a piece of wooden stick

The Bryggen inscriptions

RUNIC ALPHABETSa wooden cross

a piece of shoe

RUNIC ALPHABETS Dalecarlian runes (16th to

19th c.)

Inscription with Dalecarlian runes: a piece of wooden stick