[gothic-l] Meso-Gothic Runes

[cstrohmier at YAHOO.COM]

>Hails allaim!
>
>--- In gothic-l at y..., keth at o... wrote:
>> ...
I do however have a book by "Faulmann" that lists old
aphabets. Faulmann (p. 164) mentions papers by ZACHER
and KIRCHHOFF (do you have the exact references?) and
says these "Möso-Gothic" runic names have come down to
us together with Wulfila's alphabet, but gives no
further references:

Ans     Bairika    Giba     Dags       Aihvus        Quairþr 
Iuja/Ius
Hagls   Thaurnus   Eis      Kaunzama   Lagus         Manna    Nauþs
Jer     Urus       Pairþr   Raida      Sojil/Sauil   Tius     Vinja
Faihu   Iggus      Hvair    Oþal.

Now that I have the names, I can of course go to Lehmann and see
what he has to say: ... But alas! Lehmann has not bothered to
enter these runic names into his dictionary, whereas Faulmann
definitely gives the impression that these are the original
Gothic letter names associated with Wulfila's alphabet. 
Best regards
Keth

Hi Keth,
	This is very interesting information:  I never heard of the 
Meso-Gothic runic names before.  (I believe David Salo had sent in a 
similar list some time ago.)  It is interesting that they are in the 
order of Bishop Wulfila's alphabet, and not in the order of the 
Germanic runes.  It reminded me of an interesting chapter 
called "16.  The Runic Script" in a book called "the
GERMANIC PEOPLE:  THEIR ORIGIN, EXPANSION & CULTURE"  by Francis 
Owens. His discussion on the Germanic runes sheds light on the Meso-
Gothic runes too.  (You and many of the List members are probably 
already familiar with this information, but no doubt there are some 
who are not, and it seems especially appropriate to repeat it in this 
context.)  On page 212, he gives the runic alphabet "...divided
into three blocks of eight characters:

f u th a r k g w
h n i j p e R s
t b e m l ng d o." 

	He explains each of the three blocks:

(page 213)
"First series
1.  fehu       --- cattle, possessions, wealth (cf.  English fee).
2.  uruz       --- aurochs, perhaps also a symbol of vitality.
3.  thurisaz  --- demon
4.  ansuz     ---  god  (cf.  anses, asi).
5.  raito       ---  ride, movement, presumably on horseback
6.  kenaz     ---  torch
7.  gefo       ---  gift
8.  winjo     ---  joy, pleasure (cf.  German  Wonne)

(page 214)
"Second series
9.    hagla   ---  hail
10.  naudiz ---  need, distress
11.  isaz     ---  ice
12.  jera     --- year
13.  ihwaz      ---  yew tree
14.  therthro   ---  dance (?)
15.  algiz       ---  sign of negation
16.  sowel      --- sun (cf.  Latin sol)

"Third series
17.  Tiwaz   ---  Tiu, Tyr, god (cf.  Tuesday).
18.  erkana  ---  birch, twig
19.  ehwaz   --- horse (cf.  Latin equus)
20.  mannaz --- man
21.  laguz    --- lake
22.  Ingwaz --- Ing, a god of fertility (cf.  Ingvaeoni)
23.  tagaz    --- day
24.  othala  --- possession (cf.  German Odal)

	There was one aspect of your letter that I was not clear on:  
Are the Gothic names for the Wulfilan alphabet the same as those for 
the Meso-Gothic runes?   (My texts give the Wulfilan alphabet, but 
without the names.)
Sincerely yours,
Cory



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