Photo of the full set of mulberry bough runes, with runes woodburned into each polished surface.

The Elder Futhark

The Elder Futhark is the oldest of the runic alphabets, created perhaps as early as first century BCE (the Svingerud stone is much older than that). It was used by Germanic tribes to write proto-Norse and early Germanic dialects, often to identify a craftsman, record a personal name, mark ownership on portable items, &c. Around 4th century it was used on runestones to commemorate the deceased.

Completed:
Fehu, Uruz, Thurisaz, Ansuz, Raidho, Kenaz, Gebo, Wunjo
Hagalaz

The Runes


fehu

ūruz

þurisaz

ansuz

raidō

kaunan

gebō

wunjō

haglaz

nauðiz

īsan

jēran

perþō

īwaz

algiz

sōwilō

Tīwaz

berkanan

ehwaz

mannaz

laguz

Ingwaz

dagaz

ōþilan