According to experts, the runes are of Northern Italian origin. It is known that the peoples of Northern Europe used the runic alphabet from the 1st century AD to the Middle Ages. But besides this function, runes were also an important tool in magic rituals.
Instruction manual
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The main difference between the runic alphabet and other European alphabets is that each rune has its own specific meaning. If the name of the letters is just a meaningless set of sounds, then the name for the runes is the words of the Germanic parent language. For example: the rune "feu" means "cattle", and the runes "uruz" and "turisaz" - respectively, "bison" and "giant". The oldest of the runic alphabets are the 24 runes of Elder Futhark. Later, the younger Scandinavian runes developed, of which there were 16 letters.
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In addition, each rune has its own special religious and magical meaning. Which automatically turns the writing process into a magical ritual. From time immemorial runes have been used for divination and writing various magic spells.
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Runes are linear signs depicted in such a way that they can easily be carved from wood. Most runes were made up of 1 or 2 vertical lines cut perpendicularly in the direction of the wood fiber. They tried to avoid horizontal lines.
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In addition to wood, runes were carved on coins, gold plates, stone slabs and boulders, as well as clay pots. It was believed that runes deposited on gilded tablets bring good luck and happiness. Runic inscriptions made in the St. Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople and on the marble lion in Piraeus are known.
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Runic inscriptions, as a rule, consisted of one word, less often - of several. A few-word inscriptions are extremely rare. Runes were depicted on a variety of objects - from coins to coffins.
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The magic function of the runes became the reason for their official ban. It happened in 1639, during the church witch hunt. The masters of the runic art had to hide, many of them were destroyed. Knowledge began to be passed from mouth to mouth, so ancient traditions intertwined with late esoteric knowledge. It is in this form that information about the runes has reached our days.
