Kvasir Symbol Database

Rune Tree Symbol

Image I: The symbol as it appears on the C-bracteate IK-98

Entry by Joseph Hopkins & Lauren E. Fountain for Mimisbrunnr.info, August 2025.

Several reviewers assisted with material for this entry. We thank them for their valuable feedback.

Quick attribution:

  • Hopkins, Joseph S. 2025. “Rune tree symbol”. Mimisbrunnr.info. URL: https://www.mimisbrunnr.info/rune-tree-symbol

1. Description

The meaning, function, and name of this symbol are unknown today. However, because it resembles a simplistic illustration of a conifer tree, we refer to it in this entry as a “rune tree symbol”. The symbol appears on at least three known Elder Futhark runic inscriptions (spread across modern Sweden, Denmark, Norway) and on one Younger Futhark inscription (in southern Jutland, Denmark). There is reason to suspect that these are to be read as multiple t-runes, as discussed below.

2. Dating

The symbol occurs on the following Elder Futhark inscriptions:

It is known to occur on at least one Younger Futhark inscription:

3. Forms

All instances consist of six downward “branches”, with three on both side of the symbol’s “trunk” except G 88, which appears to feature four “branches” on the left and five on the right (although some parts of the inscription, such as the f-rune rune, are not visible).

G 88

This instance occurs after the stone’s FUTHARK sequence, a listing of the entire Elder Futhark alphabet in its unique order and one of the earliest known. The inscription notably also includes the palindrome sueus to its upper right. No consensus exists on the meaning of seues.

IK 98

On this C-bracteate, the rune tree symbol appears next to the ear of a man riding a horse, aligned with its Elder Futhark inscription. This inscription is notably often thought to mention the Proto-Norse form of the god Odin.

N NJ29B

There exists no consensus on the meaning of this Elder Futhark inscription. The symbol appears toward the center of one of the two sides of the inscription.

Sjy 38

This symbol appears on the far right of the third row from the bottom.

IM MM111

Isle of Man

https://www.runesdb.de/find/3736

4. Analysis

In her Runic-Plates … “non-graphematic branches” with discussion of the t-rune bind rune … (55)

5. About the images

This entry contains three original pieces by Rim Baudey for Mimisbrunnr.info, all produced by the artist in 2020. They are as follows:

  • I.: Rendition of form A.1. (‘twig form’).

  • II.: Form A.2.

  • III.: Form B.

Readers can find wallpaper-quality versions by clicking the images. Please contact Mimisbrunnr.info for image use requests.

6. See also

  • Bee, an insect associated with wyrd and groups of female supernatural figures in various attestations in the ancient and modern Germanic record

7. References

  • Bates, Brian. 1983. The Web of Wyrd: Tales of an Anglo-Saxon Sorcerer. Century.

  • Butcher, G. D. 1995. Stav: The Fighting System of Northern Europe. Stav Marketing.

  • Fries, Jan. 1993. Helrunar: A Manual of Rune Magick. Mandrake of Oxford.

  • "weird, n.". OED Online. March 2020. Oxford University Press. https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/226915?rskey=OkUCzz&result=1&isAdvanced=false (accessed April 08, 2020).

  • Orel, Vladimir. 2003. A Handbook of Germanic Etymology. Brill.

  • Simek, Rudolf. 2007 [1993]. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. D. S. Brewer.