![]() Wrapping UpĪs an ancient Norse symbol, the Odal rune still carries weight and symbolism when used. Still, using the Odal rune should be done with caution, especially if it has the signature “feet” or “wings” beneath it. The term Odal has also been used as a title of multiple songs such as a song in Agalloch’s second album The Mantle, a track in Wardruna’s album Runaljod – Ragnarok, and others. ![]() For example, it was depicted as a protection rune in the Shadowhunters books and film series of Cassandra Clarke, as an “inheritance” symbol in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series by Rick Riordan, as an emblem in the Sleepy Hollow TV show, as an emblem of the Othala villain in the Worm web serial, and others. This means that the original Odal rune which lacks these additions can still be viewed as more than just a hate symbol.Īnd, indeed, the Odal rune has been used in a lot of modern literary works. ![]() What remedies the Odal rune’s fall from grace is the fact that all these Nazi, Neo-Nazi, and Neo-Fascist uses of the rune depict it with the “feet” or “wings” below it. It’s featured in the Strafgesetzbuch section 86a of the German criminal code as an outlawed symbol along with the Swastika and many others. It was also later used by the Neo-Nazi Wiking-Jugend in Germany, the Anglo-Afrikaner Bond, the Boeremag, the Blanke Bevrydingsbeweging in South Africa, the National Vanguard in the Neo-Fascist group in Italy, and others.īecause of such unfortunate uses, the Odal rune is now often considered a hate symbol. The Nazi-sponsored Independent State of Croatia.The 23rd SS Volunteer Panzer Grenadier Division Nederland, which added an arrowhead at the “feet” of the rune.The 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen.What’s distinct about these uses is that they often depicted the Odal rune with additional feet or wings below it. Because of the symbol’s meaning of “nobility”, “superior race”, and “aristocracy”, it was used as the emblem of ethnic German military and Nazi organizations. Unfortunately, the Odal rune was one of the many symbols co-opted by the Nazi party of WWII Germany. The 19th and 20th centuries witnessed a resurgence of runic interest, driven by a rekindled fascination with Norse mythology and Viking history, fostering a contemporary revival of runes for divination, artistic expression, and cultural connection.Both as a rune and as the representation of the sound “ O”, the Odal rune has been seen in historic artifacts dating as far back as 3 rd century AD. Their legacy endures today, having transitioned through the Younger Futhark and Latin alphabet, while still maintaining a presence in modern culture as a symbol of Germanic heritage. This divine association elevated runes to a realm of spiritual reverence. According to myth, Odin discovered the runes through a self-sacrificial ordeal, suspending himself from the World Tree, Yggdrasil. Of all their applications, perhaps the most notable is their sacred connection to the god Odin. Runemasters employed them in divination and casting lots to glean insights into the future, adding layers of significance to these characters that became entwined with Germanic and Norse cultures. ![]() The Elder Futhark, one of the earliest runic writing systems, emerged around the 2nd century CE and found use among diverse Germanic tribes, including the Goths, Vandals, and early Norse communities.Ĭomprising 24 characters, each embodying both a phonetic sound and a profound symbolic concept, this ancient script served as a versatile writing system, gracing weaponry, jewellery, memorial stones, and monuments.īeyond the realm of practicality, runes held mystical properties.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |