Lately, I’ve been utterly fascinated by Norse mythology. Vikings, Thor the god of thunder, Odin the chief god… these tales sound both cool and mysterious. One day on Instagram, I came across a photo: a piece of wood carved with strange symbols, resembling letters yet also like magical runes. Someone commented underneath: “These are runes, from ancient Norse times.”
I was instantly hooked. Then I saw people getting these symbols tattooed on their bodies, printed on T-shirts and coffee mugs. They looked simple, yet seemed to hold some hidden secret.
My curiosity piqued, I searched “mysterious writing used by Vikings” on my phone. The term “Runes” popped up most frequently.Turns out, this wasn’t some modern design, but a writing system used by the Norse people hundreds of years ago.
But the more I looked, the stranger it got—many articles mentioned a story: Odin hung himself from a tree, fasting for nine days and nights, until he finally “saw” these symbols. That sounded crazy! Why would a god torture himself like that? How important were these runes?
How Did Odin “Obtain” the Runes?
Digging deeper, I discovered this tale is indeed recorded in ancient Norse poetry. The protagonist is none other than the king of the gods—Odin.
According to legend, Odin desperately sought wisdom and knowledge, especially the secrets of fate and the cosmos. But he knew such knowledge couldn’t be gained without a price.
So he did something extreme:
He sought out the mighty World Tree (Yggdrasil), pierced his own body with a spear, and hung himself upon it. For nine days and nights, he neither ate nor drank, nor did he sleep.
There he remained, enduring agony, gazing at the roots, until a moment came—suddenly, luminous symbols appeared upon the ground. These were the earliest runes.
It is said that at that instant, he let out a mighty cry, finally comprehending the meaning of these symbols. The price he paid was nine days of agony and self-sacrifice.
This tale astonished me. In other myths, gods typically gain power through battle or magic. But Odin was different—he earned knowledge through enduring pain and willingly sacrificing himself.
Runes Were More Than Writing—They Held “Magic”
After learning this tale, I finally grasped: For the Norse, runes were never merely writing tools.
People back then believed these symbols possessed inherent power. For instance:
- Carving runes onto swords to enhance combat prowess;
- Engraving them on tombstones to protect the souls of the deceased;
- Writing them on small wooden pieces to carry as amulets;
- Some even used them to inscribe “love spells,” hoping to attract their beloved.
Archaeologists have actually discovered these items! Ancient Norse sites have yielded stones, weapons, wooden fragments, and even bones inscribed with runes.
The most common runes include:
- Fehu (pronounced “fee-hoo”): Resembling the letter F, it symbolizes wealth, livestock, and good fortune. Back then, cattle equaled money, making this rune akin to today’s “money charm.”
- Uruz: Shaped like a curved U, it represents strength, wildness, and physical health. It’s similar to modern “cheer up” symbols.
- Ansuz: Resembling a pointed P, it represents divine speech, wisdom, and communication. As it was brought by Odin, it relates to “divine revelation.”
I tried memorizing these, sketching them repeatedly in my notebook. But my drawings became so messy I couldn’t tell them apart. Turns out being a “rune master” isn’t so easy.
My Attempt at Carving Runes Ended in Embarrassment
Reading about it wasn’t enough—I wanted hands-on experience. So I ordered some cheap clay tablets (like ancient ones) and a small carving knife from Amazon.
I decided to start with the simplest rune—Fehu—to attract wealth. Sketch, carve, carve…It was crooked and uneven, but I finally finished it.
I placed the clay tablet on my desk and silently wished, “May I win the lottery.”
The next morning, my cat jumped onto the desk and kicked the tablet off, shattering it on the floor.
I was both amused and exasperated. Maybe it wasn’t “divine punishment”—just my cat not seeing anything special about the tablet.
But honestly, this experience felt more authentic. Odin hung from a tree for nine days and nights—and I carved for mere minutes expecting riches? That was greedy.
Why does this story still matter today?
Looking back now, I understand why runes held such revered status in Norse culture.
They weren’t casually invented symbols, but knowledge earned through immense sacrifice. If even the king of the gods had to suffer to obtain them, ordinary people would naturally hold them in the highest regard.
This also explains why ancient people used runes during significant events—marriages, battles, funerals, making vows… In these moments, they sought to harness the power of symbols to communicate with the gods or fate.
Today, when we see runes, we might just think they “look cool” and are perfect for tattoos or decorations. But behind them lies a story about the pursuit of wisdom and the willingness to pay a price.
Summary: What Exactly Are Runes?
Simply put:
- Runes are an ancient Nordic writing system comprising 24 characters, forming a complete alphabet called the Futhark.
- They served not only as writing symbols but were also believed to possess spiritual and mystical power.
- Odin gained this knowledge through self-sacrifice, elevating runes to a sacred status in Norse mythology.
- Modern people use them in design, tattoos, and jewelry, though few know their deeper meaning.
Final Thoughts
Studying runes feels like piecing together an ancient puzzle. I started by admiring their beauty, only later discovering they connect to a profound cultural and spiritual system.
You probably won’t hang them on trees for nine days and nights, nor carve them into clay tablets to seek fortune. But next time you see a rune pattern, consider this:
It’s not merely a symbol—it embodies the spirit of a person (or a god) willing to endure hardship and persevere to the end in pursuit of understanding the world.
That is the true “magic” of runes.
