Anglo-Saxon Runes

The Anglo-Saxon runes are a development of the earlier continental Germanic runic system. This earlier system had twenty-four runes and is known as the Elder Futhark (after its first six letters). It came into existence around 200 BCE, and like the later Anglo-Saxon runes, was used for inscription, divination, and magic.
The Anglo-Saxon Futhorc (the first six letters are slightly different) uses all twenty-four of the original runes, and adds five newer staves (as each character is called).
More runes were added in Northumbria in the Christian era. These will be covered at a later date.
We know what each of the characters were called, and what they meant, thanks to the survival of the Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem.
There were several variations on the forms of some of the staves other than those pictured below with the Rune Poem, as they changed from region to region, and over time.
Quite a few artefacts that were inscribed with Anglo-Saxon runes survive today. Some of these include:
The Roe-Deer Bone: displayed at Norwich Castle Museum.
The Franks Casket: at the British Museum (where there are also several runic amulet rings).
The Thames Seax: a fine weapon featuring a full inscription of the Futhorc. It can be seen at the British Museum.

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Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem

Translated by Swain Wodening. (Visit Swain's page).

Stave	Modern Translation	Old English
	Feoh (money) is a help · to everyone, Though every man should · deal it our freely, If they wish before the Lord · To cast doom's lots	Feoh biþ frófor · fíra gehwilcum.  Sceal þéah manna gehwilc · miclan hit dælan  gif he wille for dryhtne · dómes hléotan
	Úr (Aurochs) is savage · and greatly horned, A very fierce beast · it fights with its horns, A well known walker of the moors · that is a bold spirit	Úr biþ ánmód · and oferhyrned,  felafrécne déor, · feohteþ mid hornum,  mære mórstapa; · þæt is módig wiht
	Thorn (Thorn) is very sharp · for every thane Who grabs it, it is evil · and immeasurably cruel For every man · that with it rests	Þorn biþ ðearle scearp; · þegna gehwilcum  onfeng is yfel, · ungemetum réþe  manna gehwilcum · þe him mid resteð
	Ós (One of the Aesir) is the primal source · of all speech Wisdom's support · and wiseman's help And every earl's · riches and happiness	Ós biþ ordfruma · ælcre spræce, wísdomes wráþu · and wítena frofór,  and eorla gehwám · éadnes and tóhiht
	Rád (Ride) is in the hall · to every warrior Soft, and mighty hard · to him that sits upon strong mare · over miles of paths	Rád biþ on recede · rinca gehwilcum  séfte, and swíþhwæt · þám þe sitteþ on ufan  meare mægenheardum · ofer mílpaþas
	Cén (torch) is to all of the quick (i.e., "living") · known by its fire Shining and bright · burns it oftest Where the nobles · rest inside	Cén biþ cwicera gehwám · cúþ on fýre,  blác and beorhtlic, · bierneþ oftost  þær híe æþelingas · inne restaþ
	Giefu (Gift) is to men · glee and praise Support and worship (worthiness) · and to every wretch Honour and sustenance · that they would otherwise be left without	Giefu gumena biþ · gleng and herenys,  wráþu and weorþscype, · and wræcna gehwám  ár and ætwist · þe biþ óþra léas
	Wynn (Joy) one uses and enjoys · that knows little (of) want Sores and sorrows · and himself has prosperity and bliss · and fortress enough	Wynn ne brúceþ · þe can wana lýt,  sáres and sorge, · and him selfa hæfþ  blæd and blysse · and éac burga geniht
	Hagol (Hail) is the whitest corn · it whirls from heaven's sky Rolled by wind's showers · it worths (becomes) water then	Hagol biþ hwítost corna; · hwyrft hit of heofones lyfte,  wealcaþ hit windes scúra, · weorþeþ hit tó wætere syððan
	Níed (Need) is narrow on the chest · though worths it oft to men's children To help and heal however · if they listen to it early	Níed biþ nearu on bréostan, · weorþeþ híe þeah oft níþa bearnum  tó helpe and tó hæle gehwæþre, · gif híe his hlystaþ æror
	Ís (ice) is overly cold · immeasurably slick It glistens like bright glass · most like gem A floor wrought of frost · is a fair sight	Ís byþ oferceald, · ungemetum slidor,  glisnaþ glæshlútor, · gimmum gelícost,  flór forste geworuht, · fæger ansíene
	Géar (Year) is man's hope · if God lets, Holy heaven's king, · the Earth sell (i.e. "give") Bright fruits, · to nobles and needy	Géar biþ gumena hiht, · þonne god læteþ,  hálig heofones cyning, · hrúsan sellan  beorhte bléda · beornum and þearfum.
	Éoh (Yew) is outwardly · an unsmooth tree Held hard, earthfast · fire's guardian Roots twist underneath · a joy on the estate	Éoh biþ útan · unsméþe tréow,  heard, hrúsan fæst, · hierde fyres,  wyrtruman underwreþed, · wynn on éþle.
	Peordh (tafl man?) is always · play and laughter Amongst bold men · where warriors sit In the beer hall · happy together	Peorþ biþ symble · plega and hleahtor  wlancum · þar wigan sittaþ  on béorsele · blíþe ætsamne
	Eolh-secg (Elk sedge grass) has a home · oftest in the marsh It waxes in water · it wounds grim And burns with blood · any man that in any way · dares grab it	Eolh-secg eard hæfþ · oftost on fenne,  weaxe on wætere, · wundaþ grimme,  blóde breneð · beorna gehwilcne  þe him ænigne · onfeng gedéð
	Sigel (Sun) by seamen · always is hoped for When they fare hence · over fish's bath ("ocean") Until the sea steed ("ship") · they bring to land	Sigel sæmannum · simble biþ on hihte,  þonne híe hine fériaþ · ofer fisces bæþ,  oþ híe brimhengest · bringeþ tó lande
	Tir (Glory)* is some token · it holds troth well With nobles · aye it is on course Over night's mists · it never wanders or deceive alternative name Tiw (the god Tyr)	Tir biþ tácna sum, · healdeð tréowa wel  wiþ æþelingas, · á biþ on færylde,  ofer nihta genipu · næfre swíceþ
	Beorc (birch) is shootless · it bears even so Twigs without fruit · it has shining branches High in its crown · fair adorned Loaded with leaves · it touches the sky	Beorc biþ bléda léas, · bereþ efne swá þéah  tánas bútan túdor, · biþ on telgum wlitig,  héah on helme · hrysted fægere,  gehlóden léafum, · lyfte getenge
	Éh (horse) is for earls · an noble's pleasure, A horse's hooves are bold · when around it heroes Wealthy on war horses · exchange speech And is for the restless · is ever a help	Éh biþ for eorlum · æþelinga wynn,  hors hófum wlanc, · ðær him hæleþ ymbe,  welege on wicgum, · wrixlaþ spræce,  and biþ unstyllum · æfre frofur
	Mann (man) is in mirth · his kinsmen's dear, Though each shall · others deceive When the Lord wishes · in his doom That poor flesh · be committed to the earth	Mann biþ on myrgþe · his mágan léof;  sceal þéah ánre gehwilc · óðrum swícan,  for þám dryhten wille · dóme síne  þæt earme flæsc · eorþan betæcan
	Lagu (sea) is to people · thought long If they should go thence · on a shaky ship And the sea waves · strongly terrify And the sea steed (ship) · obeys not its bridles	Lagu biþ léodum · langsum geþúht,  gif híe sculun néþan · on nacan tealtum,  and híe sæýþa · swíþe brégaþ,  and sé brimhengest · brídles ne gíemeð
	Ing was first · among the East Danes Seen by men · but he since went eft (back) Over the wet way · his wain (wagon) ran after Thus the Heardings · named the hero	Ing wæs ærest · mid Eastdenum  gesewen secgun, · oþ hé siððan eft  ofer wæg gewát, · wæn æfter ran;  þus heardingas · þone hæle nemdon
	Dæg (Day) is the Lord's messenger · dear to man The Measurer's great light · mirth and hope To rich and poor · for all to use or enjoy.	Dæg biþ dryhtnes sond, · déore mannum,  mære metodes léoht, · myrgþ and tóhiht  éadgum and earmum, · eallum bryce
	Éthel (Estate) is very dear · to every man And enjoy in his house - increase. If he may straight away · keep what's fit And enjoy in his house · increase often	Éðel byþ oferleof · æghwylcum men,  gif hé mót þær rihtes · and gerisena on  brúcan on bolde · blædum oftost
	Ác (Oak) is on earth · for sons of men Food for the flesh · It fares often Over whale's bath (sea) · The sea finds Whether oak has · noble faith	Ác biþ on eorþan · ielda bearnum  flæsces fódor, · féreþ gelóme  ofer ganotes bæþ; · gársecg fandaþ  hwæþer ác hæbbe · æþele tréowe
	Æsc (Ash) is very tall · dear to men, Resolute in stability · It holds the right place Though it fights off · many men	Æsc biþ oferhéah, · ieldum déore,  stiþ on staþole, · stede rihte hielt,  þéah him feohtan on · fíras manige
	Ýr (Bow) is to nobles · and men alike Joy and worthiness · it is fair on a horse Steadfast on a journey · It is a piece of war gear	Ýr biþ æþelinga · and eorla gehwæs  wynn and weorþmynd, · biþ on wicge fæger,  fæstlíc on færelde, · fyrdgeatewa sum
	Ior (Serpent) is a river fish · and though it always uses Food on earth · it has a fair home Surrounded by water · where it lives in happiness	Íor biþ éafisc, · and þéah a brúceþ  fódres on foldan, · hafaþ fægerne eard,  wætre beworpen, · þær hé wynnum léofaþ
	Éar (The grave) is hideous · to every man When steadily · the flesh begins The body cools · and chooses the earth black To bed with · Fruits fall Joys pass away · truths are broken	Éar byþ egle · eorla gehwilcun,  þonn fæstlice · flæsc onginneþ, hræw cólian, · hrúsan ceosan  blác to gebeddan; · bléda gedréosaþ,  wynna gewítaþ, · wera geswícaþ

(Note: This translation is Common Domain, and may be distributed freely, as long as it is properly attributed to its author, Swain Wodening Canote).

 

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