Icy Betrayals
Runes are more than just ancient letters—they are a bridge to the past, carrying both phonetic and symbolic meaning. Across Northern Europe, different runic alphabets developed.
The Major Runic Alphabets
Elder Futhark
ᚠ ᚢ ᚦ ᚨ ᚱ ᚲ ᚷ ᚹ ᚺ ᚾ ᛁ ᛃ ᛇ ᛈ ᛉ ᛊ ᛏ ᛒ ᛖ ᛗ ᛚ ᛜ ᛞ ᛟ
Dating from roughly 150–800 CE, the Elder Futhark is the oldest runic alphabet, consisting of 24 runes. Used primarily in Scandinavia and Germany, it appears in inscriptions, amulets, and early magical texts. Each rune not only represented a sound but also held symbolic significance, often linked to protection, strength, or fertility.
Younger Futhark
ᚠ ᚢ ᚦ ᚬ ᚱ ᚴ ᚼ ᚾ ᛁ ᛅ ᛋ ᛏ ᛒ ᛘ ᛚ ᛦ
From around 800–1100 CE, the Younger Futhark simplified the Elder Futhark to 16 runes, reflecting changes in the Old Norse language. It became widespread during the Viking Age, particularly in Scandinavia, and is the basis for the runes later used in Iceland.
Anglo-Saxon
ᚠ ᚢ ᚦ ᚩ ᚱ ᚳ ᚷ ᚹ ᚻ ᚾ ᛁ ᛄ ᛇ ᛈ ᛉ ᛋ ᛏ ᛒ ᛖ ᛗ ᛚ ᛝ ᛟ ᛞ ᚪ ᚫ ᚣ ᛡ ᛠ ᛣ ᛤ ᛥ
Used between 400-1100 CE, this alphabet expanded the Elder Futhark to 28–33 runes, adapting the alphabet for Old English sounds.
Icelandic Runes
ᚠ ᚢ ᚦ ᚬ ᚱ ᚴ ᚼ ᚾ ᛁ ᛅ ᛋ ᛏ ᛒ ᛘ ᛚ ᛦ ᚧ ᚵ ᛂ ᛕ ᛆ ᛙ ᛚ (Medieval)
From roughly 1100-1400 CE, Icelandic runes based on the Younger Futhark, but expanded to better represend Old Icelandic sounds, were used in inscriptions, manuscripts, and for practical writing.
ᚠ ᚢ ᚦ ᚬ ᚱ ᚴ ᚼ ᚾ ᛁ ᛅ ᛋ ᛏ ᛒ ᛘ ᛚ ᛦ ᚧ ᚵ ᛂ ᛕ ᛆ ᛙ ᛪ ᚡ ᚮ ᚯ ᛐ ᛑ (Contemporary)
Icelandic Runic is a modern adaptation of medieval runes by Alexander R. designed to write contemporary Icelandic, but was never used in any significant historical way. It adds vowels for letters like á, é, í, ó, ú, ý and includes a J rune.
Modern Icelandic does not use runes as a standard writing system, relying instead on the Latin alphabet. Yet many features of Old Norse remain, so the sounds and meanings of runes are still recognizable.
One notable exception is the Þþ (thorn) rune, which survived into modern Icelandic. Representing the “th” sound, as in thing or thorn, Þ is still used today in words like þing (“assembly”) and þorrablót (a midwinter festival), a living link between Iceland’s past and present
Bindrunes: Merging Symbols and Meanings
While originally tools for writing, runes were often believed to carry magical power. Today, they are studied for historical insight, artistic expression, and even divination, including the creation of bindrunes—symbols that combine multiple runes into one meaningful design. Each rune contributes its symbolic meaning, making the bindrune a concentrated emblem of intention. Runes can be overlapped, interlaced, or placed side by side.
The Bindrunes for Heart, Love, and Grace appear in ICY BETRAYALS
- Ást (Love): Represents deep, passionate devotion and selflessness.
- Þokki (Grace): Symbolizes elegance and personal charm, highlighting resilience and poise under pressure.
- Hjarta (Heart): Evokes courage, warmth, and wholeness. This bindrune celebrates quiet bravery and strength.
Where do they appear? Why? For that you’ll need to catch a loftskip and find your way behind a waterfall in Iceland.
