The Odal rune (ᛟ) is a Germanic rune representing the o sound. Its reconstructed Proto-Germanic name is *ôþalan. The corresponding Gothic letter is 𐍉 o, called oþal. The name means "homestead, estate, inheritance" (see e.g. Uppsala öd). It is associated with property and inheritance, wealth and prosperity. In the Anglo-Saxon rune poem, the name appears as Ethel:
- 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.
The glyph is illustrated here both with and without optional the small serif-like lines at the bottom. The rune is encoded in Unicode at codepoint U+16DF: ᛟ
Troll cross
In rural Sweden, the Odal rune survived until modern times as the so-called Troll cross (Trollkors), an odal rune made of iron that was used as a pendant on necklaces for women and children, or just carved onto valuable objects. It was believed to protect what was precious against trolls and other evil forces.
Fascist use
It is used as a Swastika-like emblem by extreme right-wing and neo-Nazi groups, and followers of the "spiritual" movements of Odalism. It was the emblem of ethnic Germans (Volksdeutsche) of the Yugoslavian SS-regiment (the 7. SS Freiwillingen-Gebirgs -- Division Prinz Eugen) operating during World War II in the Nazi Germany-sponsored Independent State of Croatia. It was also used by the South African African Student Federation.
See also: Fascist symbolism.
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