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{{Youmay|runes and runic alphabets|the [[Study of Ancient Runes|Hogwarts subject devoted to their study]]}}
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The '''Runic Alphabets''' are a set of related alphabets that used letters, known as runes, to write various Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet. It was later used for specialized purposes.
  
   
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'''Runes''' (also referred to as '''Ancient Runes''') are the letters (symbols representing various sound values) of a runic alphabet. Runes are studied at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] under the title "[[Study of Ancient Runes]]".
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Lessons in [[Study of Ancient Runes|Ancient Runes]] are given at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] that teach students how to identify and translate them. Using the Time Turner, Hermione Granger was able to take both Ancient Runes and Divitation and the same time. She also translated the [[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]] from the original runic alphabet into modern English.
  
   
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==Known runes==
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Using [[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]], [[Albus Dumbledore]] was able to lead [[Hermione Granger]] to the [[Deathly Hallows]].
  
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Below is a list of all the known runes, along with their meanings
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==='''Lexical'''===
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*[[Eihwaz]] - means "Defence"
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*[[Ehwaz]] - means "Partnership" and corresponds to the Latin "e"
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==='''Numerical'''===
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[[File:Ancient_Runes_Made_Easy.jpg|thumb|''Ancient Runes Made Easy'', showing the Ancient Rune numbers.]]
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*[[Demiguise]]: the creature's invisibility abilities represents "0".
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*[[Unicorn]]: the creature's [[Unicorn horn|single horn]] represents "1".
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*[[Graphorn]]: the creature's [[Graphorn horn|dual horns]] represent "2".
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*[[Runespoor]]: the triple-headed creature represents "3".
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*[[Fwooper]]: the creature comprised of four different colours in feathers represents "4".
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*[[Quintaped]]: the five legs of the creature represents "5".
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*[[Salamander]]: the maximum hours of the creature's ability to survive out of fire represents "6".
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*[[Unknown]]: due to the [[seven|magically powerful number]] still being shrouded in mysteries, the unknown symbol represents "7".
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*[[Acromantula]]: the eight-eyed creature represents "8".
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*[[Hydra]]: the nine-headed creature represents "9".
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==Uses==
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Whilst still shrouded in mystery, runic appears to be used frequently in the modern wizarding world. The runes themselves appear to be used principally as a stand-ins for letters of the Latin alphabet, as well as whole words (as logograms). For example, Dumbledore's copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, the name [[Albus Dumbledore]] was written entirely in runic, requiring translation before mass-production for the general public.
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The esoteric ''[[The Quibbler|Quibbler]]'' magazine has been known to publish runic texts (including instructions for a spell to turn another's [[Ears to kumquats|ears into kumquats]]).
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==Notable runologists==
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*[[Bathsheda Babbling]] - teacher of the [[Study of Ancient Runes]] at Hogwarts.
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*[[Bartemius Crouch Jr.|Barty Crouch Jr]]<ref>According to his father, [[Bartemius Crouch Sr.]], B.C. Jr. obtained twelve O.W.L.s, the maximum number attainable (which would, naturally, include Study of Ancient Runes.</ref>
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*[[Albus Dumbledore]]
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*[[Hermione Granger]] - translated the [[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]] from the original runic alphabet into modern English.
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*[[Luna Lovegood]] {{comment|possibly}}
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*[[Xenophilius Lovegood]] {{comment|possibly as he used them in the Quibbler}}
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*[[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]]
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*[[Percy Weasley]]
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*[[Eduaphora Mergus]]
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*[[Merlin]] (possibly)<ref>According to possible questions posed on the sorting quiz on ''Pottermore'', Merlin may have owned a book handwritten in runes and used a rune as his personal [[Mark of Merlin|mark]].</ref>
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==Behind the scenes==
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[[File:HarryPotter01BackCover2.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Dumbledore depicted on the revised back cover art of ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'', with runic inscriptions around the cloak]]
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[[File:Wanted.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Sirius Black's Azkaban placard, showing runic inscriptions]]
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*Although only a small number of runes are revealed in the books, other corners of the franchise reveal more; the purple cloak that the depiction of Dumbledore is seen wearing on the children's back cover art of ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' is inscribed with a wealth of runes, as are the placards that prisoners of [[Azkaban]] hold up in the film adaptations. Below is a list of the runes that appears on them:
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**Fehu {{Comment|Lucius Malfoy's Azkaban placard, cover art}}
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**Uruz {{Comment|Lucius Malfoy's Azkaban placard, cover art}}
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**Ansuz {{Comment|cover art}}
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**Raido {{Comment|cover art}}
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**Kaunan {{comment|Sirius Black's Azkaban placard}}
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**Gebo {{Comment|Sirius Black's Azkaban placard, cover art}}
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**Isa {{Comment|cover art}}
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**Teiwaz {{comment|Lucius Malfoy's Azkaban placard}}
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**Berkana {{Comment|cover art}}
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**Perth {{comment|Sirius Black's Azkaban placard}}
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**Algiz {{comment|Sirius Black's Azkaban placard}}
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**Sowilo {{Comment|cover art}}
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**[[Ehwaz]] {{Comment|[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix|Order of the Phoenix]], cover art}}
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**Mannaz {{comment|Lucius Malfoy's Azkaban placard, cover art}}
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**Laguz {{Comment|cover art}}
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**Othila {{Comment|Lucius Malfoy's Azkaban placard, cover art}}
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**Dagaz {{Comment|cover art}}
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*The 7 Elder Futhark runes thus far not represented in the franchise are: Thurisaz (þ a.k.a. "th"), Jera (j), Wunjo (W), Hagalaz (h), Naudiz (n) and Ingwaz (ŋ a.k.a. "ng").
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*All the runes represented in the franchise belong to the Elder Futhark runic alphabet in real life (with the exception of the numbers, which are entirely fictitious).
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*It is not truly known to what extent the Elder Futhark runes retain their meanings in the Harry Potter universe; One runic word on the HP&PS cover art (on Dumbledore's cloak) spells out DUMBLED'''A'''RE in Latin. However, the "A" was probably a mistake ( meant to have been an "O", Othila in runic) and so they most likely relate to the letters in the Latin alphabet the same way in the franchise as they do in real life.
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*It is possible that more than just one runic alphabet is in use in the wizarding world, albeit with some wizarding additions - such as the aforementioned numbers (given the length of study that may be allotted to their study in the Hogwarts Curriculum and the number of books on the subject). However, Elder Futhark is probably the most popular given how frequently it is seen throughout the series.
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*As the teachers at Hogwarts had to enter their magic rune on the evaluation form given to it by the [[Dolores Umbridge]], as well as that it was a magical rune of Alastor Moody's file on Umbridge's office in 1998, it is possible that these features are of particular importance, and serves as a form of identification or a similar social security number.
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==Appearances==
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]] ''{{comment|Seen only on posterior, UK children's cover art}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'' {{Comment|Mentioned in the name [[Study of Ancient Runes|Ancient Runes]]}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)]]'' {{Comment|Mentioned in the name [[Study of Ancient Runes|Ancient Runes]] & seen on Sirius's Azkaban placard}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'' {{Comment|Mentioned in the name [[Study of Ancient Runes|Ancient Runes]]}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)]]'' {{Comment|Seen only on Lucius Malfoy's Azkaban placard}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)]]'' {{Comment|Mentioned on ''The Quibbler'' on Disc 2}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]] ''{{mention}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]] ''{{mention}}
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*''[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard (real)]] ''{{Mention}}
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*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''
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==External links==
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*{{Wikilink|Runes}}
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*{{Wikilink|Elder Futhark}}
   
 
==See also==
  
==See also==
 
*[[Study of Ancient Runes]]
  
*[[Study of Ancient Runes]]
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runes Wikipedia page about runes]
  
   
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==Notes and references==
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{{stub}}
  
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{{Reflist}}
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[[pl:Runy]]
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[[ru:Руны]]
 
[[Category:Languages]]
  
[[Category:Languages]]
 
[[Category:Magic]]
  
[[Category:Magic]]

Revision as of 18:34, 20 May 2013

"Point me!"
This article is about runes and runic alphabets. You may be looking for the Hogwarts subject devoted to their study.

Runes (also referred to as Ancient Runes) are the letters (symbols representing various sound values) of a runic alphabet. Runes are studied at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry under the title "Study of Ancient Runes".

Known runes

Below is a list of all the known runes, along with their meanings

Lexical

  • Eihwaz - means "Defence"
  • Ehwaz - means "Partnership" and corresponds to the Latin "e"

Numerical

Ancient Runes Made Easy

Ancient Runes Made Easy, showing the Ancient Rune numbers.

  • Demiguise: the creature's invisibility abilities represents "0".
  • Unicorn: the creature's single horn represents "1".
  • Graphorn: the creature's dual horns represent "2".
  • Runespoor: the triple-headed creature represents "3".
  • Fwooper: the creature comprised of four different colours in feathers represents "4".
  • Quintaped: the five legs of the creature represents "5".
  • Salamander: the maximum hours of the creature's ability to survive out of fire represents "6".
  • Unknown: due to the magically powerful number still being shrouded in mysteries, the unknown symbol represents "7".
  • Acromantula: the eight-eyed creature represents "8".
  • Hydra: the nine-headed creature represents "9".

Uses

Whilst still shrouded in mystery, runic appears to be used frequently in the modern wizarding world. The runes themselves appear to be used principally as a stand-ins for letters of the Latin alphabet, as well as whole words (as logograms). For example, Dumbledore's copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, the name Albus Dumbledore was written entirely in runic, requiring translation before mass-production for the general public.

The esoteric Quibbler magazine has been known to publish runic texts (including instructions for a spell to turn another's ears into kumquats).

Notable runologists

Behind the scenes

HarryPotter01BackCover2

Dumbledore depicted on the revised back cover art of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, with runic inscriptions around the cloak

Wanted

Sirius Black's Azkaban placard, showing runic inscriptions

  • Although only a small number of runes are revealed in the books, other corners of the franchise reveal more; the purple cloak that the depiction of Dumbledore is seen wearing on the children's back cover art of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is inscribed with a wealth of runes, as are the placards that prisoners of Azkaban hold up in the film adaptations. Below is a list of the runes that appears on them:
    • Fehu (Lucius Malfoy's Azkaban placard, cover art)
    • Uruz (Lucius Malfoy's Azkaban placard, cover art)
    • Ansuz (cover art)
    • Raido (cover art)
    • Kaunan (Sirius Black's Azkaban placard)
    • Gebo (Sirius Black's Azkaban placard, cover art)
    • Isa (cover art)
    • Teiwaz (Lucius Malfoy's Azkaban placard)
    • Berkana (cover art)
    • Perth (Sirius Black's Azkaban placard)
    • Algiz (Sirius Black's Azkaban placard)
    • Sowilo (cover art)
    • Ehwaz (Order of the Phoenix, cover art)
    • Mannaz (Lucius Malfoy's Azkaban placard, cover art)
    • Laguz (cover art)
    • Othila (Lucius Malfoy's Azkaban placard, cover art)
    • Dagaz (cover art)
  • The 7 Elder Futhark runes thus far not represented in the franchise are: Thurisaz (þ a.k.a. "th"), Jera (j), Wunjo (W), Hagalaz (h), Naudiz (n) and Ingwaz (ŋ a.k.a. "ng").
  • All the runes represented in the franchise belong to the Elder Futhark runic alphabet in real life (with the exception of the numbers, which are entirely fictitious).
  • It is not truly known to what extent the Elder Futhark runes retain their meanings in the Harry Potter universe; One runic word on the HP&PS cover art (on Dumbledore's cloak) spells out DUMBLEDARE in Latin. However, the "A" was probably a mistake ( meant to have been an "O", Othila in runic) and so they most likely relate to the letters in the Latin alphabet the same way in the franchise as they do in real life.
  • It is possible that more than just one runic alphabet is in use in the wizarding world, albeit with some wizarding additions - such as the aforementioned numbers (given the length of study that may be allotted to their study in the Hogwarts Curriculum and the number of books on the subject). However, Elder Futhark is probably the most popular given how frequently it is seen throughout the series.
  • As the teachers at Hogwarts had to enter their magic rune on the evaluation form given to it by the Dolores Umbridge, as well as that it was a magical rune of Alastor Moody's file on Umbridge's office in 1998, it is possible that these features are of particular importance, and serves as a form of identification or a similar social security number.

Appearances

External links

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ According to his father, Bartemius Crouch Sr., B.C. Jr. obtained twelve O.W.L.s, the maximum number attainable (which would, naturally, include Study of Ancient Runes.
  2. ↑ According to possible questions posed on the sorting quiz on Pottermore, Merlin may have owned a book handwritten in runes and used a rune as his personal mark.
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