Ansuz (rune): Difference between revisions
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The Norwegian rune poem, ''Óss'' has a meaning of "[[estuary]]" while in the Anglo-Saxon one, [[futhorc]] ''Os'' {{Runic|ᚩ}} has the Latin meaning of "mouth". The Younger Futhark rune is transliterated as ''ą'' to distinguish it from the new [[ᛅ|Ár rune (ᛅ)]], which continues the ''[[Jēran]]'' rune after loss of prevocalic ''*j-'' in Proto-Norse ''*jár'' (Old Saxon ''jār''). |
The Norwegian rune poem, ''Óss'' has a meaning of "[[estuary]]" while in the Anglo-Saxon one, [[futhorc]] ''Os'' {{Runic|ᚩ}} has the Latin meaning of "mouth". The Younger Futhark rune is transliterated as ''ą'' to distinguish it from the new [[ᛅ|Ár rune (ᛅ)]], which continues the ''[[Jēran]]'' rune after loss of prevocalic ''*j-'' in Proto-Norse ''*jár'' (Old Saxon ''jār''). |
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Since the name of [[File:Gothic a.svg|15px]] ''a'' is attested in the [[Gothic alphabet]] as ''ahsa'', the common Germanic name of the rune may thus either have been '''*ansuz''' "god", or '''*ahsam''' "ear (of corn)". |
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A variant of the rune is Futhorc ''Æsc'' {{Runic|ᚫ}} "[[ash tree|ash]]". The Latin ligature [[Æ]] in [[Old English language|Old English]] was called Æsc after the rune. Another variant is ''Ac'' "[[oak]]" {{Runic|ᚪ}}. |
A variant of the rune is Futhorc ''Æsc'' {{Runic|ᚫ}} "[[ash tree|ash]]". The Latin ligature [[Æ]] in [[Old English language|Old English]] was called Æsc after the rune. Another variant is ''Ac'' "[[oak]]" {{Runic|ᚪ}}. |
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Revision as of 08:33, 19 June 2010
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The a-rune ᚨ, Younger Futhark ᚬ was probably named after the Æsir, in Proto-Germanic *Ansuz.
The shape of the rune is likely from Neo-Etruscan a (
), like Latin A ultimately from Phoenician Aleph.
Its name survives only in the Icelandic rune poem as Óss, however, referring to Odin, identified with Jupiter:
- ᚬÓss er algingautr
- ok ásgarðs jöfurr,
- ok valhallar vísi.
- Jupiter oddviti.
- Óss is aged Gautr
- and prince of Ásgardr
- and lord of Vallhalla.
- chief Jupiter
The Norwegian rune poem, Óss has a meaning of "estuary" while in the Anglo-Saxon one, futhorc Os ᚩ has the Latin meaning of "mouth". The Younger Futhark rune is transliterated as ą to distinguish it from the new Ár rune (ᛅ), which continues the Jēran rune after loss of prevocalic *j- in Proto-Norse *jár (Old Saxon jār).
Since the name of 
a is attested in the Gothic alphabet as ahsa, the common Germanic name of the rune may thus either have been *ansuz "god", or *ahsam "ear (of corn)".
A variant of the rune is Futhorc Æsc ᚫ "ash". The Latin ligature Æ in Old English was called Æsc after the rune. Another variant is Ac "oak" ᚪ.