The various so-called "Runic alphabets" are a set of related alphabets using letters known as runes, a system of symbols used to write Germanic languages, mainly in Scandinavia and the British Isles. In all their variations they may be considered as the ancient writing system of Northern Europe. The Scandinavian version of Runes is known as Futhark (derived from its first six letters: Fehu, Uruz, THurisaz, Ansuz, Raidho, and Kenaz), and the Anglo-Saxon version is known as Futhorc (also named after the first letters). In Norse mythology, the invention of runes is attributed to the god Odin: The Hávamál (in stanzas 138 and 139) describes how Odin receives the knowledge of runes through his self-sacrifice -- he hung upside down by own foot from the World-Tree Yggdrasil for nine days and nights, fasting and pierced throught the side with his own spear. The text (in English translation) is as follows: I know that I hung on a windy tree nights all nine, wounded with a spear and given to Odin, myself to myself, on that tree of which no man knows from where its roots run No bread did they give me nor a drink from a horn, downwards I peered, I took up the runes, screaming I took them, then I fell back from there The Icelandic sources do not relate how the runes were transmitted to mortal men, but in 1555, the exiled Swedish archbishop Olaus Magnus recorded a tradition that a man named Kettil Runske had stolen three rune staffs from Odin and learned the runes and their magic.

RUNE	NAME	LETTER	DEITY	COLOR	ELEMENT	MEANING
	Fehu	F	Freya			Prosperity, Wealth, Cattle
	Uruz	U	Thor			Purification, Healing, Maasculine Strength, Auroch (Wild Ox)
	Thurisaz	Th	Thor			Protection, Storm, Giant, Thorn
	Ansuz	A	Odin			Asgard, Opening, God
	Raidho	R	Thor			Rider, Journey, Chariot
	Kenaz	K	Freya			Light, Knowledge, Torch
	Gebo	G	Odin			Gift, Exchange
	Wunjo	W/V	Odin			Joy, Perfection, Wishes
	Hagalaz	H	Hel			Natural Disasters, Destruction, Hail
	Nauthiz	N	Skuld			Need, Obligation, Binding
	Isa	I	Frost Giants			Beginning, Ice
	Jera	Y/J	Freya			Passing Time, Year
	Eihwaz	Ei	Skadi			Yew, Hidden Wisdom
	Perthro	P	Frigga			Pear, Chance
	Algiz	Z	Valkyries, Heimdall			Elk, Birth/Death, Protection
	Sowilo	S	Baldur			Lightning, Will/Self, Wood, Sun
	Tiwaz	T	Tyr			Justice, Victory, Sky
	Berkano	B	Bertha			Birch, Healing, Luck
	Ehwaz	E	Frey			Horse, Movement, Marriage, Shape-Shifting
	Mannaz	M	Heimdall			Mankind, Mind, Support, Birch Twig
	Laguz	L	Nerthus			Lake, Woman, Sorcery
	Ingwaz	Ng	Freya			Fertility, Earth
	Dagaz	Dh/D	Loki			Day, Hidden, Beginning/End
	Othala	O	Odin			Land, Ancestors, Inheritance