Scramaseax
06-18-2005, 12:43 AM
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/03/Anglosaxonrunes.JPG
The Frisian Futhorc
Like it's precursor the Elder Futhark, the origins of the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc are somewhat murky. Sometime in the 5th century AD, language shifts in Frisia had rendered the 24-stave Elder Futhark insufficient, so a 25th stave, Ac, was added The 4th stave of the Elder Futhark, Ansuz, became known as Aesc and was moved to 26th place, with another new stave, Os, filling it’s vacant position. This stage of the transformation was completed with the inclusion of a 27th stave, Yr. This is known as the Frisian Futhorc, which was brought to Britain by the Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Frisians who began to invade Britain in 449 AD. Early evidence suggests the initial presence of the Elder Futhark, and it is difficult to determine if an object was inscribed in England or inscribed in Frisia and brought there with the settlement. The oldest English Runic inscription found thus far appears to be in the Elder Futhark, but only because the Hagall stave has one crossbar instead of two. The earliest definite example of the Frisian Futhorc is 5th or 6th century AD.
The Anglo-Saxon Futhorc
Towards the end of the 7th century, a 28th stave was added, known as Ear. This is the Anglo-Saxon or Anglo-Frisian Futhorc, of which the Thames Scramaseax is our only example of an inscription:
http://tinypic.com/64fcbo
The Anglo-Saxon Futhorc is also recorded in the 9th Century Vienna Codex and Old English Rune Poem. Some instability is still apparent, as the three sources do not agree on the exact sequence. The OERP also describes another new stave, Ior, in 28th place.
The Northumbrian Futhorc
In the Anglian kingdom of Northumbria, the 29-stave Futhorc was extended again to include four additional staves: Queorth, Calc, Stan and Gar, bringing the total to 33. Some commentators have suggested Keltic Christianity influenced these final additions, particularly that the cup is the Holy Grail of Arthurian myth.
Literal meanings of the additional Anglo-Saxon rune staves are as follows:
04: Os = As (singular of Aesir, also mouth/speech)
25: Ac = Oak
26: Aesc = Ash
27: Yr = Yew bow
28: Ior = Iormundgar (the Midgard Serpent)
29: Ear = Burial Mound
30: Queorth = Ritual fire
31: Calc = Cup
32: Stan = Stone
33: Gar = Spear
The Frisian Futhorc
Like it's precursor the Elder Futhark, the origins of the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc are somewhat murky. Sometime in the 5th century AD, language shifts in Frisia had rendered the 24-stave Elder Futhark insufficient, so a 25th stave, Ac, was added The 4th stave of the Elder Futhark, Ansuz, became known as Aesc and was moved to 26th place, with another new stave, Os, filling it’s vacant position. This stage of the transformation was completed with the inclusion of a 27th stave, Yr. This is known as the Frisian Futhorc, which was brought to Britain by the Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Frisians who began to invade Britain in 449 AD. Early evidence suggests the initial presence of the Elder Futhark, and it is difficult to determine if an object was inscribed in England or inscribed in Frisia and brought there with the settlement. The oldest English Runic inscription found thus far appears to be in the Elder Futhark, but only because the Hagall stave has one crossbar instead of two. The earliest definite example of the Frisian Futhorc is 5th or 6th century AD.
The Anglo-Saxon Futhorc
Towards the end of the 7th century, a 28th stave was added, known as Ear. This is the Anglo-Saxon or Anglo-Frisian Futhorc, of which the Thames Scramaseax is our only example of an inscription:
http://tinypic.com/64fcbo
The Anglo-Saxon Futhorc is also recorded in the 9th Century Vienna Codex and Old English Rune Poem. Some instability is still apparent, as the three sources do not agree on the exact sequence. The OERP also describes another new stave, Ior, in 28th place.
The Northumbrian Futhorc
In the Anglian kingdom of Northumbria, the 29-stave Futhorc was extended again to include four additional staves: Queorth, Calc, Stan and Gar, bringing the total to 33. Some commentators have suggested Keltic Christianity influenced these final additions, particularly that the cup is the Holy Grail of Arthurian myth.
Literal meanings of the additional Anglo-Saxon rune staves are as follows:
04: Os = As (singular of Aesir, also mouth/speech)
25: Ac = Oak
26: Aesc = Ash
27: Yr = Yew bow
28: Ior = Iormundgar (the Midgard Serpent)
29: Ear = Burial Mound
30: Queorth = Ritual fire
31: Calc = Cup
32: Stan = Stone
33: Gar = Spear