Odal (rune)

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Name	Proto-Germanic	Anglo-Saxon
	*Ōþalan	Éðel
	"heritage, estate"
Shape	Elder Futhark	Futhorc
Shape
Unicode	ᛟ U+16DF
Transliteration	o	œ
Transcription	o, ō	œ, oe, ōe
IPA	[o(ː)]	[eː], [ø(ː)]
Position in rune-row	23 or 24

The Elder Futhark Odal rune (ᛟ) represents the o sound. Its reconstructed Proto-Germanic name is *ôþalan. The corresponding Gothic letter is 𐍉 o, called oþal. Variations of the name include Othila and Othala. The letter may be derived from a Raetian o letter variant, ultimately cognate with Greek Ω.

The rune is encoded in Unicode at codepoint U+16DF:ᛟ

The term oþal (Old High German uodal) is a formative element in some Germanic names, notably Ulrich and variants. Edmund and other English names with the "ed" prefix (from Old English ead), German Otto and various Germanic names beginning with adal- or od- are also connected to Odal.

1 Futhorc Ethel
2 Scandinavian property law
3 Troll Cross
4 Modern usage
- 4.1 Nazism and Neo-Nazism
- 4.2 Germanic Neopaganism
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

Futhorc Ethel

The Odal rune is often associated with property and inheritance, wealth and prosperity. In the Anglo-Saxon rune poem, the name appears as ethel (ēðel). In English runology this letter is sometimes transliterated œ.

ᛟ Eþel byþ oferleof æghwylcum men,

gif he mot ðær rihtes and gerysena on

brucan on bolde bleadum oftast.

An estate is very dear to every man,

if he can enjoy there in his house

whatever is right and proper in constant prosperity.

Scandinavian property law

Odal was a concept of inheritance in ancient Scandinavian property law. Some of these laws are still in effect today, and govern Norwegian property. These are the Åsetesrett (homestead right), and the Odelsrett (allodial right).

Troll Cross

An iron troll cross.

The Odal rune may be^[who?] related to the Troll Cross (Swedish: Trollkors), an odal rune-like symbol made of iron that was used as a pendant on necklaces for women and children or just carved onto valuable objects. According to rural Swedish folklore, it was believed to protect what was precious against trolls and other malevolent forces.

Modern usage

Nazism and Neo-Nazism

Further information: Nazi symbolism and Strafgesetzbuch § 86a

Flag of the Croatian Volksdeutsche 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen

The Odal rune was the emblem of ethnic Germans (Volksdeutsche) of the 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen operating during World War II in the Nazi Germany-sponsored Independent State of Croatia.

The Odal rune has been used by Stefano Delle Chiaie's neofascist group Avanguardia Nazionale in Italy, by the Neo-Nazi Wiking-Jugend in Germany and by the terrorist, white-supremacist group Boeremag in South Africa. Odal was also the name of a monthly Nazi periodical.^[1] The Young BNP in the United Kingdom and the Nationalist Coalition in America have taken up the symbol.

Germanic Neopaganism

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As with other runes, the Odal rune is also used as a symbol by Germanic Neopagans without a political association. The Odal rune is in the banner and name of the Theodish organization Œðelland.