![]() This smaller version of the ancient alphabet is further subdivided into Danish and Swedish/Norwegian versions known respectively as the long-branch and short-twig runes. The Younger Futhark is reduced to 16 characters even though at the time Norse was developing more phonemes in the spoken language. The Germanic Elder Futhark as we have seen has a total of 24 characters and derives from the Greek alphabet. The alphabet found its final form after a transition period of approximately 200 years in the 7th and 8th centuries. Its adoption is loosely contemporaneous with the Viking age. Widespread use of the Younger Futhark begins in approximately the 9th century. Observed similarities between several of the characters make this abundantly clear. The accepted historical account, agreed upon by modern scholars is that the runes derive from the Greek alphabet. ![]() ![]() Viking thought was not as linear as some historians and even many pagans would like it to be. They are not, however, mutually exclusive. One is via traditional lore, the other through modern archaeology. There are two main ways to approach the subject of Norse runes. The Younger Futhark, also known as Scandinavian runes, date from about the 9 th century. This continued until about the 8 th century. Early Germanic tribes used the Elder Futhark system from around the beginning of the Common Era. ![]() There are two main versions of Norse runes the Elder Futhark and the Younger Futhark. Asztalos Gyula, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons ![]()
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