[Elder Futhark]
The Norse runes were not only used as an alphabet for the Norsemen, but also were sacred to them it was a way to commune with the gods and know their will. Odin, the supreme god in the Norse pantheon, is often associated with wisdom and learning. They never win wisdom without sacrifice, and it is through sacrifice that Odin could discover the runes. According to legend, Odin hung himself from the great tree, Yggdrasil, over the great Niflheim, where he meditated and suffered self inflicted spear wounds. Only after nine days of this was the knowledge of the runes yielded to him. Odin was only able to gain the wisdom he was seeking by sacrifice of himself. The Poetic Edda tells the story this way:
I hung from a windswept tree. I hung there for nine days and nights, Gashed with a spear, An offering to Odin, A sacrifice to myself, Bonded to the tree which no man knows, Or whither its roots may run. No one gave me bread, Nor gave me drink. I peered into the depths and Snatched up the runes, And with a fearful scream Fell into a swoon. After I began to thrive, My wisdom thrived too. I was joyful and I prospered. One word led me to another, One deed lead me to another.
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