Want to learn more about Norse Vikings? We provide information and insight for people interested in Viking Age Scandinavia. The present web site is a dynamic resource that treats on current and past issues related to Norse cultural heritage. The Viking Rune offers unique online features: free Rune Converter and Motto Generator. We are committed to greater access to knowledge about the Vikings, which is the only way to dispel the myth about Norse warriors as cruel and bloodthirsty raiders who did nothing but kill, pillage and rape. The Viking Rune is always up-to-date with the latest developments in North Germanic studies, including hot archeological finds in Scandinavia and elsewhere.


Valknut – A Norse Viking Symbol

January 5, 2009 Germanic Symbols
Valknut

The word valknut is a neologism: it is formed in modern times through combination of ON valr, ‘the dead’ or ‘the slain’ and knut, ‘knot’. Valknut is a Viking symbol of three interconnected triangles. The triangles may be joined in two ways: either as Borromean: or unicursal: Note that other types of valknuts, such as [...]

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Christmas Traditions in Iceland

December 24, 2008 Norse Folklore
Yule lad

Christmas traditions in Iceland are very peculiar. Many of them may well go back to the Viking Age. Christmas in Iceland is closely connected with St. Þorlákur’s day, which is December 23, when they celebrate Thorláksmessa. St. Þorlákur, 12th century bishop and patron-saint of Iceland, was canonized by John-Paul II as late as in 1985. [...]

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Elder Futhark – Inner Structure

December 17, 2008 Elder Futhark
Thumbnail image for Elder Futhark – Inner Structure

Countless “introductions to runes” each represent the Germanic Elder Futhark in a standardized form, both as for the appearance of the individual runes and the order in which they are arranged (my earlier post on the Elder Futhark is no exception). However, we should be aware of the fact that getting the real picture implies [...]

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Magic Runes

December 13, 2008 Elder Futhark
Magic runes

Among the most ancient Elder Futhark inscriptions there are a few words that appear pretty often, but what they actually mean is unclear. According to a subtle remark by R. I. Page, in runology, like in too many other knowledge areas, the following principle has been extensively used as a guideline: “Whatever cannot be readily [...]

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Runic Love Quotes

December 1, 2008 Medieval Runes
Runic love quote

The fire of 1955 destroyed part of Bryggen, the old quarter of Bergen (Norway). This made possible large scale excavations of a medieval town. Archeologists brought to light over 550 objects with runic inscriptions, dating to 1150-1350. The most of them are on wooden sticks with flattened sides. At a time when everyone had a [...]

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Younger Futhark Runes And Later Developments

November 29, 2008 Medieval Runes
Younger Futhark

At the end of the 8th century an unknown rune-master reformed the Elder Futhark having reduced it to 16 runes. By the 10th century the new form of writing was accepted in the whole of Scandinavia. This variant of runic alphabet is known as the Younger Futhark. It is this set of runes that may [...]

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Elder Futhark Runic Alphabet

November 16, 2008 Elder Futhark
Elder Futhark

The elder Futhark is the most ancient Germanic runic alphabet. The word futhark is formed after the first six runes in it, the same way as the Greek word alphabet is formed after the first two Greek letters, Alpha and Beta. See below which signs represented which sounds: The order of the runes has nothing [...]

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Viking Runes on the Piraeus Lion in Venice

November 9, 2008 Runic Inscriptions
Piraeus Lion

The Venetian Arsenal is guarded by four statues of lions. One of them, a nine feet high marble beast, bears on its mighty shoulders two lengthy runic inscriptions. These are carved within the intricate ornaments that represent writhing lindworms, characteristic for classical runestone design. The holy patron of Venice is St. Mark; the vicissitudes of [...]

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