A Reckoning of Runes: Episode 008
In your final visit to The Midnight Library of the season, and since we now count so many among you as our friends… we thought we might impart to you some rare and useful, magical knowledge. We’re going to tell you all about the powerful Runic alphabet. What you do with it after that is up to you… but we’ll know, so just keep that in mind...friend.
![Student at a rune stone (Vs 13) in the Anundshög (Anund's mound) prehistoric area in Badelunda. The inscription says: "Folkvid raised all of these stones in memory of his son Heden, Anund's brother. Vred cut the runes".](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d713e8a483fca0001aaf1a0/1574386036726-MIWTPPJ74L8Y62DX1W4Q/Rune_stone%2C_Badelunda%2C_Va%CC%88stmanland%2C_Sweden_%2829568321071%29-2.jpg)
![Modern runestone in Handen, Haninge municipality, Stockholm county, Södermanland, Sweden. Located by Commuter Train Station.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d713e8a483fca0001aaf1a0/1574385782373-01UGHSP6GK8VDX3D6TSK/Rune_Stone.jpg)
![Rune stone (Ög 77) at Hovgården in Hov. In the middle a cross. The inscription says: "Tunna raised this stone in memory of her husband Torfast. He was amongst people the least of a villain".](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d713e8a483fca0001aaf1a0/1574386002371-N0388Z9JW4OW5FRL0XR8/800px-Hov_rune_stone.jpg)
![Rune stone outside the Sister churches at Granavollen, Gran, Oppland, Norway, listed as N 63 in Rundata](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d713e8a483fca0001aaf1a0/1574385821049-3ED0PM630LEH4IR1FAL2/476px-Granavollen_rune_stone.jpg)
![Rune stone circle in Straubing , Bavaria. The runes of the Elder Futhark are painted on Solnhofen limestones . The picture was taken at the summer solstice in June 2014.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d713e8a483fca0001aaf1a0/1574385845039-WBO8ME19P0T93X298F76/Runensteinkreis_-_Rune_Stone_Circle_-_02.jpg)
![Rune stone, copy. The original is from Berezanj. The inscription reads “Grane made this stone cist after Karl, his fellow”. Ukraine.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d713e8a483fca0001aaf1a0/1574385870228-41O8824JZU9C628RT5A7/800px-Rune_stone%2C_copy_%286915476249%29.jpg)
![One of the runestones at Skalunda Church, Lidköping municipality. Copyright information .](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d713e8a483fca0001aaf1a0/1574385611553-IJO0PSYM2UTHGPMG85W7/400px-Skalunda_Runestone.jpg)
![Möjbrostenen, in the entrance hall of historiska museet](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d713e8a483fca0001aaf1a0/1574385905981-1WT43TG2GCJIQYQGLBLF/450px-Uppland_rune_stone_U_877.jpg)
![Rune stone (U 321) at Skalmsta. The inscription says: "(uitan) had this stone raised in memory of his son and Karl in memory of his brother. Sven carved these runes in memory of Uddulv".](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d713e8a483fca0001aaf1a0/1574385965516-284LK90BD9H2J67WTP55/Rune_stone%2C_Skalmsta%2C_Uppland%2C_Sweden_%289122553259%29.jpg)
![Rune stone (Sö 250) in Jursta. The inscription says: "Gynna raised this stone in memory of Saxe, Halvdan's son". Behind the rune stone is a farmstead. Svenska: Runsten (Sö 250) i Jursta. Ristningen säger: "Gynna reste denna sten efter Saxe, Halvd](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d713e8a483fca0001aaf1a0/1574386061066-P6K5T8FSQ3IHJMLDA7CK/433px-Rune_stone%2C_Jursta%2C_So%CC%88dermanland%2C_Sweden.jpg)