Odal (rune)

The Elder Futhark Odal rune (ᛟ), also known as the

Proto-Germanic Old English
Othala rune, represents the o sound. Its reconstructed
Proto-Germanic name is *ōþalan "heritage; Name *Ōþalan Ēðel
inheritance, inherited estate". "heritage, estate"
Elder Futhark Futhorc
It was in use for epigraphy during the 3rd to the 8th
centuries. It is not continued in the Younger Futhark, Shape
disappearing from the Scandinavian record around the
6th century, but it survived in the Anglo-Saxon

ᛟ
Futhorc, and expressed the Old English œ phoneme
during the 7th and 8th centuries. Its name is attested as Unicode
ēðel in the Anglo-Saxon manuscript tradition.
U+16DF

The rune is encoded in Unicode at code point Transliteration o œ

U+16DF: ᛟ. Transcription o, ō œ, oe, ōe
IPA [o(ː)] [eː], [ø(ː)]
Position in
Contents rune-row
23 or 24

Name and etymology

Elder Futhark o-rune
Anglo-Saxon œ-rune
Modern use
Germany
South Africa
United States
Odal variants
New Zealand
Germanic neopaganism
Other
References
External links

Name and etymology

The Common Germanic stem ōþala- or ōþila- "inherited estate" is an ablaut variant of the stem aþal-. It
consists of a root aþ- and a suffix -ila- or -ala-. The suffix variant accounts for the umlauted form ēþel.
Germanic aþal‑ had a meaning of (approximately) "nobility", and the derivation aþala‑ could express
"lineage, (noble) race, descent, kind", and thus "nobleman, prince" (whence Old English ætheling), but also
"inheritance, inherited estate, property, possession". Its etymology is not clear, but it is usually compared to
atta "father" (cf. the name Attila, ultimately baby talk for "father").
There is an apparent, but debated, etymological connection of Odal to Adel (Old High German adal or edil),
meaning nobility, noble family line, or exclusive group of superior social status; aristocracy, typically
associated with major land holdings and fortifications.[1]

The term oþal (Old High German uodal) is a formative element in some Germanic names, notably Ulrich and
variants;, the stem aþal is more frequent, found in Gothic names such as Athalaric, Ataulf, etc. and in Old
High German names such as Adalbert,[2] and Adel. Unrelated, but difficult to separate etymologically, is the
root aud- "wealth, property, possession, prosperity";[3] from this root are names such as Edmund and other
English names with the ed prefix (from Old English ead), German Otto and various Germanic names
beginning with ed- or od-. Possibly related is euþa, euþu a word for "child, offspring" (attested in Old Norse
jóð, and possibly in the name of the Iuthungi).

Odal was associated with the concept of inheritance in ancient Scandinavian property law. Some of these laws
are still in effect today, and govern Norwegian property. These are the Åsetesrett (homestead right), and the
Odelsrett (allodial right). The tradition of Udal law found in Shetland and Orkney in Scotland, and also in
Manx law on the Isle of Man, is from the same origin.

Elder Futhark o-rune

The o-rune is attested early, in inscriptions from the 3rd
century, such as the Thorsberg chape (DR7 (https://skaldi
c.abdn.ac.uk/db.php?id=18836&if=runic&table=mss))
and the Vimose planer (Vimose-Høvelen, DR 206 (http
s://skaldic.abdn.ac.uk/db.php?if=runic&table=mss&id=1
9030)). The letter is derived from a Raetian variant of the
letter O. The corresponding Gothic letter is 𐍉 (derived
from Greek Ω), which had the name oþal.
Illustration of the Thorsberg chape showing the
Wolfgang Krause (1964) has speculated that the o rune is runic inscriptions on both sides
used as an ideograph denoting possession in the
Thorsberg chape inscription. The inscription has
owlþuþewaz, read by Krause as O[þila] - W[u]lþu-þewaz "inherited property - the servant of Wulþuz".[4]

The odal rune is found in some transitional inscriptions of the 6th or 7th century, such as the Gummarp,
Björketorp and Stentoften runestones, but it disappears from the Scandinavian record by the 8th century. The
Old Norse o phoneme is now written in Younger Futhark with the same letter as the u phoneme, the Ur rune.

Anglo-Saxon œ-rune
The Anglo-Saxon runes preserve the full set of 24 Elder Futhark runes (besides introducing innovations), but
in some cases these runes are given new sound values due to Anglo-Frisian sound changes. The odal rune is
such a case: the o sound in the Anglo-Saxon system is now expressed by ōs ᚩ, a derivation of the old Ansuz
rune; the odal rune is now known as ēðel (with umlaut due to the form ōþila-) and is used to express an œ
sound, but is attested only rarely in epigraphy (outside of simply appearing in a futhark row). 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".
The Anglo-Saxon rune poem preserves the meaning "an inherited estate" for the rune name:

ᛟ byþ oferleof æghƿylcum men, [An estate] is very dear to every man,
gif he mot ðær rihtes and gerysena on if he can enjoy there in his house
brucan on bolde bleadum oftast. whatever is right and proper in constant prosperity.

Modern use

Germany

The rendition of the Odal rune with wings or feet (serifs) was the
badge of the SS Race and Settlement Main Office, which was
responsible for maintaining the racial purity of the Nazi Schutzstaffel
(SS).[5] It was also the emblem of ethnic Germans (Volksdeutsche) of
the 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen operating
during World War II in the Nazi Germany-sponsored Independent
State of Croatia. This rendition has been used by the Neo-Nazi
Wiking-Jugend in Germany, and in South Africa by the Anglo-
Flag of the Volksdeutsche 7th SS
Afrikaner Bond, the Boeremag, the Blanke Bevrydingsbeweging,[6]
Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz
and the Italian neo-fascist group National Vanguard. This particular Eugen
rendition has no historical significance outside of Nazi Germany.

Insignias of the 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen and the 23rd SS Volunteer Panzer Grenadier
Division Nederland

Because of its Nazi associations, Strafgesetzbuch 86a bans any usage of the Odal rune as with most other
symbols if used in a Neo-Nazi context.

Another version with arrows on the end was used by the 23rd SS Volunteer Panzer Grenadier Division
Nederland.

South Africa

It was used by the Afrikaner Student Federation and the far-right wing White Liberation Movement.[7][8]

United States
In November 2016, the leadership of the National Socialist Movement announced their intention to replace the
Nazi-pattern swastika with the Odal rune on their uniforms and party regalia in an attempt to enter mainstream
politics.[9][10]

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 odal rune with wings/feet, leading to speculation on social
media as to why that design was chosen. CPAC chairman Matt Schlapp said comparisons were “outrageous
and slanderous”.[11] 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.[12]

New Zealand

The symbol was used with the Black Sun/Sonnenrad/Schwarze Sonne, Tyr rune, Celtic Cross, Kolovrat
swastika, the neo-Nazi slogan Fourteen Words and Archangel Michael's Cross of the Romanian fascist group
Iron Guard by the Christchurch mosque shooter Brenton Harrison Tarrant.[13]

Germanic neopaganism

The rendition of the Othala rune both with and without feet/wings (serifs) is used by Odinists and Asatruar
interchangeably, usually without any relation to National Socialism or the Völkisch movement.

Other

In April 2014, the British Topman clothing company apologised after using the Odal rune in one of their
clothing lines.[14]

References
1. de:Adel
2. Schönfeld, Wörterbuch der altgermanischen Personen- und Völkernamen, 1911, 1f.
(Adalharius, Adalhildis, Adalwal, Adaric, Adica, Adila), 33ff. (Athala, Athalaricus, Athanagildus,
Athanaricus, Athavulfus), Reichert, Lexikon der altgermanischen Namen 2, 1990, 469
(Adalhari, Adalhildis, Adulouuald, Adaluuial, Atala, Athala, Athalaric, Adaric, Alaric)
3. Pokorny (1959), p. 76
4. 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. See also Spurkland, Terje (2005). Norwegian Runes
and Runic Inscriptions (https://books.google.com/books?id=1QDKqY-NWvUC). Boydell Press.
pp. 47–48. ISBN 1-84383-186-4.
5. Lumsden, Robin (1995). SS Regalia. Edison, NJ: Book Sales, Inc. p. 35.
ISBN 9780785802280.
6. 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
7. "Neo-Nazi flag symbolism" (https://flagspot.net/flags/qt-z_sym.html#odal). flagspot.net.
Retrieved 2015-09-02.
 8. 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
9. "Bizarre, bold reason America's white supremacists just banned swastika" (http://www.news.co
m.au/world/north-america/americas-white-supremacists-ban-swastika-in-bold-attempt-to-go-ma
instream/news-story/53f68100ba52a1e33b13cf25b794d028). Archived (https://web.archive.org/
web/20161116144901/http://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/americas-white-supremaci
sts-ban-swastika-in-bold-attempt-to-go-mainstream/news-story/53f68100ba52a1e33b13cf25b7
94d028) from the original on 2016-11-16. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
10. Schoep, Jeff (4 November 2016). "National Socialist Movement: Announcement" (https://www.n
sm88.org/nsmnews/NSMAnnouncement_Nov_2016.htm). Press Release. National Socialist
Movement (US). Retrieved 27 February 2021.
11. Walters, Joanna (1 March 2021). "CPAC: Hyatt Hotels says stage design resembling Nazi rune
is 'abhorrent' " (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/01/cpac-2021-stage-design-na
zi-sign-odal-othala-rune-hyatt-hotels-hate-symbol-abhorrent). The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March
2021.
12. Design firm takes responsibility for CPAC stage controversy (https://forward.com/fast-forward/4
65136/design-firm-takes-responsibility-for-cpac-stage-controversy/), The Forward
13. "White Supremacist Terrorist Attack at Mosques in New Zealand" (https://www.adl.org/blog/whit
e-supremacist-attack-at-mosques-in-new-zealand). March 15, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
14. Hayward, Stephen (2014-04-13). "Fascism disaster: Topman withdraws 'Nazi' clothing line after
online shopper points out SS insignia" (https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/fascism-disaste
r-topman-withdraws-nazi-3406462). Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2020-06-26.

External links
The dictionary definition of ᛟ at Wiktionary

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This page was last edited on 7 April 2021, at 03:59 (UTC).

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