Othala
Name | Proto-Germanic | Old English |
---|---|---|
*Ōþala- | Ēðel | |
"heritage, estate" | ||
Shape | Elder Futhark | Futhorc |
Unicode | ᛟ U+16DF | |
Transliteration | o | œ |
Transcription | o, ō | œ, oe, ōe |
IPA | [o(ː)] | [eː], [ø(ː)] |
Position in rune-row | 23 or 24 |
Othala (ᛟ), also known as ēðel and odal, is a
As with other symbols used historically in Europe such as the
Name and etymology
The sole attested name of the rune is
Terms derived from *ōþalą are formative elements in some Germanic names, notably Ulrich.[citation needed]
The term "odal" (
Elder Futhark o-rune
The o-rune is attested early, in inscriptions from the 3rd century, such as the
It has been suggested that the othala rune on the Ring of Pietroassa is used to represent the word "*oþal", referencing the ring as hereditary treasure.[2] Similarly, Wolfgang Krause speculated that the o rune is used as an ideograph denoting possession in the Thorsberg chape inscription, reading the inscription owlþuþewaz as O[þila] - W[u]lþu-þewaz "inherited property - the servant of Wulþuz".[3][4][5][6]
Anglo-Saxon œ-rune
Usage and shape
The
The rune is also used as a shorthand for the word ēþel or œþel ("ancestral property or land") in texts such as
Notable attestations
Epigraphical attestations include:
- the Frisian Westeremden yew-stick, possibly as part of a given name Ƿimod (Ƿimœd)
- the Harford (Norfolk) brooch, dated c. 650, in a finite verb form: luda:gibœtæsigilæ "Luda repaired the brooch"
- the left panel of the Franks Casket, twice: tƿœgen gibroþær afœddæ hiæ ƿylif "two brothers (scil. Romulus and Remus), a she-wolf nourished them".
Rune poem
The
ᛟ bẏþ oferleof æghƿẏlcum men, |
[An estate] is very dear to every man, |
Modern use
Far-right iconography
Deliberate use as a far-right symbol
The symbol derived from othala with wings or feet (
The rune and winged symbol have been used by the Neo-Nazi
Alleged use as a far-right symbol
In some cases, individuals and organisations have been accused of using the rune as a far-right symbol, such as in April 2014 when the British Topman clothing company apologised after using it in one of their clothing lines.[21] Furthermore, at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held in Orlando, Florida, on February 25–28, 2021, the floor layout of the main stage resembled the winged form of the othala rune, leading to speculation on social media as to why that design was chosen. CPAC chairman Matt Schlapp said comparisons were "outrageous and slanderous".[22] Design firm Design Foundry later took responsibility for the design of the stage, saying that it "intended to provide the best use of space, given the constraints of the ballroom and social distancing requirements." Ian Walters, director of communications for the ACU and CPAC, said they would stop using Design Foundry.[23][24]
The
Heathenry
Othala, along with other runes more widely, often feature prominently in the practices of
Popular culture
The Anti-Defamation League notes that because it is part of the runic alphabet, the othala rune is used widely in a non-racist manner and should be interpreted in conjunction with its context.[32]
As with other historical runes, othala is used by
The name of the rune is also used in Stargate SG-1, in which Othala is a world in the Ida Galaxy where the Asgard had lived.[citation needed]
See also
- Troll cross – A symbol which resembles the rune
References
- ^ Price 2022, p. 185.
- ^ Silva 2006, p. 396.
- ^ Krause, Wolfgang, 'Die Runendenkmäler und ihre Sprache' In: Von der Bronzezeit bis zur Völkerwanderungszeit, (ed.) Klose, Olaf. Neumünster 1964 [reprint 1979], 311-325.
- ^ Krause, Wolfgang, Herbert Jankuhn. Die Runeninschriften im älteren Futhark, Göttingen, 1966.
- ^ The interpretation by Krause follows an earlier suggestion by Helmut Arntz, Handbuch der Runenkunde, 2nd ed., Halle/Saale 1944.
- ^ Spurkland 2005, pp. 47–48.
- ^ Page 2003, p. 40.
- ^ Silva 2006, p. 393.
- ^ a b Barnes 2022, pp. 153–154.
- ISBN 9780785802280.
- ^ Schönteich, Martin and Boshoff, Henri Volk, faith and fatherland: the security threat posed by the white right Institute for Security Studies (South Africa)(2003) p48
- ^ Colborne, Michael (22 January 2020). "Ukraine's Far Right Is Boosting A Pro-Putin Fascist". bellingcat. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
- ^ "Neo-Nazi flag symbolism". flagspot.net. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
- ^ Visser, Myda Marista Die Ideologiese Grondslae En Ontwikkeling Van Die Blanke Fascistiese Bewegings In Suid-Afrika, 1945- 1995 (The ideological foundations and development of white fascist movements in South Africa, 1945-1999) M.A. thesis University of Pretoria (1999) p. 164
- ^ Smith, Rohan (15 November 2016). "Bizarre, bold reason America's white supremacists just banned swastika". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 2016-11-16. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
- ^ Schoep, Jeff (4 November 2016). "National Socialist Movement: Announcement". Press Release. National Socialist Movement (US). Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "White Supremacist Terrorist Attack at Mosques in New Zealand". March 15, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- ^ eso, pp. 384, 621.
- ISBN 9789189116818.
- ^ Barnes 2022, pp. 194–196.
- ^ Hayward, Stephen (2014-04-13). "Fascism disaster: Topman withdraws 'Nazi' clothing line after online shopper points out SS insignia". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
- ^ Walters, Joanna (1 March 2021). "CPAC: Hyatt Hotels says stage design resembling Nazi rune is 'abhorrent'". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ Kornbluh, Jacob (2021-03-03). "Design firm takes responsibility for CPAC stage controversy". The Forward. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
- ^ Ibrahim 2021.
- ^ Discogs.
- ^ Heilbronner 2015, pp. 270–286.
- ^ Blain 2005, pp. 181–208.
- ^ Harvey 1997, p. 61.
- ^ Calico 2018, p. 118.
- ^ Calico 2018, pp. 391–392.
- ^ AUK statement.
- ^ ADL, Othala.
- ^ Tolkien 1937.
- ^ Tolkien 1955.
- ^ Northgard.
Bibliography
Primary
- Tolkien, J.R.R. (1937). The Hobbit. London: George Allen & Unwin.
- Tolkien, J. R. R. (1955). The Return of the King – Being the Third Part of The Lord of the Rings; Appendix E. London: George Allen & Unwin.
Secondary
- Barnes, Michael P. (2022). Runes: a handbook (paperback ed.). Woodbridge Rochester, NY: the Boydell press. ISBN 9781783276974.
- Blain, Jenny (2005). Modern paganism in world cultures: comparative perspectives. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781851096084.
- Bogdan, Henrik; Hammer, Olav, eds. (2016). Western Esotericism in Scandinavia. BRILL. pp. 384, 621. ISBN 9789004325968.
- Calico, Jefferson F. (2018). Being Viking: heathenism in contemporary America. Bristol. p. 118. ISBN 9781781792230.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - Harvey, Graham (1997). Listening people, speaking earth: contemporary paganism. London: Hurst & Co. p. 61. ISBN 978185065-2724.
- Heilbronner, Oded (2015). "The Wewelsburg Effect: Nazi Myth and Paganism in Postwar European Popular Music". Revisiting the "Nazi Occult": Histories, Realities, Legacies. German History in Context. Boydell & Brewer: 270–286. ISBN 9781782046080.
- Page, R. I. (2003). An introduction to English runes (2nd ed.). Woodbridge, UK: Boydell Press. ISBN 085115946X.
- Price, Neil S. (2022). The children of ash and elm: a history of the Vikings. London: Penguin. ISBN 9780141984445.
- Silva, Inmaculada Senra (1 January 2006). "A note on the meaning of os in the Old English Rune Poem". Epos: Revista de filología (22): 393. ISSN 2255-3495.
- Spurkland, Terje (2005). Norwegian Runes and Runic Inscriptions. Boydell Press. ISBN 1-84383-186-4.
- "Othala Rune". www.adl.org. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- "Death In June - Come Before Christ And Murder Love". Discogs. 1985. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
- "Asatru UK, In response to the Daily Telegraph article". Facebook. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- Ibrahim, Nur Nasreen (2021-03-03). "Was the CPAC Stage Intentionally Shaped Like a Nazi Symbol?". snopes.com. Retrieved 2023-04-13. [Verdict: "Mixture". The resemblance was clear, the intention undetermined by documentation but denied.]
- "Northgard - Balancing Patch 7 - July 2021 - Steam News". store.steampowered.com. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
External links
- The dictionary definition of ᛟ at Wiktionary