The Odal rune, also called the Othala, is
one of the oldest and most widely used runes in most ancient Norse, Germanic, and Anglo-Saxon
cultures.
In the Elder Futhark, the oldest form of the runic alphabets, it was used to represent
the 'o' sound.
In this video, we'll be looking at the symbolism of the odal rune and its changing symbolism
in history.
Not much is known about the Odal rune and its history, but it can be seen in historic
artifacts dating as far back as the 3rd century AD.
Shaped like an angular letter O with two legs or ribbons coming from either side of the
lower half, the Odal rune is simple in its appearance.
However, its quite complex in its significance.
The rune represents inheritance, persistence, and tradition, and is also associated with
unity and the bond between family members.
It also signifies the words heritage, inherited estate, and inheritance, which stem from the
old Germanic words ala or ila and their many variants.
In general, the odal rune represented positive concepts related to family and tradition.
When reversed, however, the rune represents negative concepts such as loneliness, division,
separation, or rebellion.
This was the symbolism of the Rune for much of its history, which spans thousands of years.
However, In the 20th century, the Odal rune was adopted by the Nazis in Germany.
Because it represented nobility, superior race, and aristocracy, the Nazis used it as
the emblem of ethnic German military and Nazi organizations
What was distinct about these uses was that they often depicted the rune with additional
feet or wings below it.
This variation of the Odal rune was also used by a number of political organizations around
the world, such as the Neo-Nazi Wiking-Jugend in Germany, the Anglo-Afrikaner Bond, and
the Boeremag in South Africa, and the National Vanguard in the Neo-Fascist group in Italy.
Over the years, the Odal rune came to be considered a symbol of hate because of its association
with the Nazis and other political organizations.
In fact, section 86a of the German penal code, known as the Strafgesetzbuch features the
Odal rune as an outlawed symbol along with the swastika.
However, its important to note that this hate symbol is the variation of the Odal rune depicted
with feet or wings below it.
This means that the original Odal rune which lacks these additions can still be viewed
as more than just a symbol of hatred.
.
And, indeed, the Odal rune has been used in a lot of modern literary works.
For example, it was portrayed as a protection rune in the Shadowhunters books and film series,
as an inheritance symbol in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series, and as an emblem
in the Sleepy Hollow TV show.
However, the use of the odal rune remains somewhat controversial.
In 2021, there was an outcry when the stage of a CPAC event was found to resemble the
Odal Rune.
USA Today called it a public high-five to white supremacists while Forbes stated that
it was a massive public relations disaster for the Hyatt Regency where the conference
was being held.
Today, the odal rune is a prime example of how the meaning of a symbol can change over
time.
However, although the Nazis and other extremist groups have tainted the reputation of the
Odal rune, its still viewed as an important Norse symbol.
What do you think?
Should the odal rune be used for its original symbolism or be banned for its association
with hate groups?
Let us know in the comments below.
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