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Adding local short description: "Runic character", overriding Wikidata description "rune"
 
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{{Short description|Runic character}}
{{other uses|Giba (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox rune
{{Infobox rune
| lang1 = pg| lang2 = oe
| lang1 = pg| lang2 = oe
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| name2a = '''Gyfu'''
| name2a = '''Gyfu'''
| name2b = '''Gār'''
| name2b = '''Gār'''
| meaning1 = ‘gift’
| meaning1 = 'gift'
| meaning2a =‘gift’
| meaning2a ='gift'
| meaning2b =“[[Migration period spear|spear]]”
| meaning2b ="[[Migration period spear|spear]]"
| shape1 = [[File:Runic letter gebo.svg|x50px|]]
| shape1 = [[File:Runic letter gebo.svg|x50px|class=skin-invert-image]]
| shape2a =[[File:Runic letter gebo.svg|x50px|]]
| shape2a =[[File:Runic letter gebo.svg|x50px|class=skin-invert-image]]
| shape2b =[[File:Runic letter gar.svg|x50px|]]
| shape2b =[[File:Runic letter gar.svg|x50px|class=skin-invert-image]]
| unicode hex1 =16B7
| unicode hex1 =16B7
| unicode hex2a =16B7
| unicode hex2a =16B7
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}}
}}
{{Contains special characters|Runic|width=30em}}
{{Contains special characters|Runic|width=30em}}
'''Gyfu''' is the name for the ''g''-[[rune]] {{runic|ᚷ}} in the [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]] [[rune poem]], meaning ‘gift’ or ‘generosity’:
'''Gyfu''' is the name for the ''g''-[[rune]] {{runic|ᚷ}} in the [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]] [[rune poem]], meaning 'gift' or 'generosity':


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
|-
|
|
{{runic|ᚷ}} Gyfu gumena byþ gleng and herenys,
{{runic|ᚷ}} Gẏfu gumena bẏþ gleng and herenẏs,
<br />ƿraþu and ƿyrþscype and ƿræcna gehƿam
<br />ƿraþu and ƿẏrþscẏpe and ƿræcna gehƿam
<br />ar and ætƿist, ðe byþ oþra leas.
<br />ar and ætƿist, ðe bẏþ oþra leas.
|
|
Generosity brings credit and honour, which support one’s dignity;
Generosity brings credit and honour, which support one's dignity;
<br />it furnishes help and subsistence
<br />it furnishes help and subsistence
<br />to all broken men who are devoid of aught else.
<br />to all broken men who are devoid of aught else.
|}
|}


The corresponding letter of the [[Gothic alphabet]] is 𐌲 ''g'', called ''giba''. The same rune also appears in the [[Elder Futhark]], with a suggested [[Proto-Germanic language|Proto-Germanic]] name '''*gebô''' ‘gift’. J. H. Looijenga speculates<ref>J.H. Looijenga, ''Runes Around the North Sea and on the Continent Ad 150-700'', PhD diss. Groningen 1997, p. 56. [http://dissertations.ub.rug.nl/FILES/faculties/arts/1997/j.h.looijenga/thesis.pdf Download PDF]</ref> that the rune is directly derived from Latin [[Chi (letter)|Χ]], the pronunciation of which may have been similar to Germanic ''g'' in the 1st century, e.g., Gothic ''*reihs'' compared to Latin ''rex'' (as opposed to the [[Etruscan alphabet]], where [[Image:EtruscanX-01.png|14px|X]]/𐌗 had a value of {{IPA|[s]}}).
The corresponding letter of the [[Gothic alphabet]] is 𐌲 ''g'', called ''giba''. The same rune also appears in the [[Elder Futhark]], with a suggested [[Proto-Germanic language|Proto-Germanic]] name '''*gebô''' 'gift'. J. H. Looijenga speculates<ref>J.H. Looijenga, ''Runes Around the North Sea and on the Continent Ad 150-700'', PhD diss. Groningen 1997, p. 56. [http://dissertations.ub.rug.nl/FILES/faculties/arts/1997/j.h.looijenga/thesis.pdf Download PDF]</ref> that the rune is directly derived from Latin [[Chi (letter)|Χ]], the pronunciation of which may have been similar to Germanic ''g'' in the 1st century, e.g., Gothic ''*reihs'' compared to Latin ''rex'' (as opposed to the [[Etruscan alphabet]], where [[Image:EtruscanX-01.png|14px|X]]/𐌗 had a value of {{IPA|[s]}}).


The ''gyfu'' rune is sometimes used as a symbol within modern [[mysticism]], particularly amongst those interested in [[Celtic mythology]]. It’s described, for example, in the book ''The Runic Tarot'' as a representation of the giving-receiving balance in [[friendship]]s.<ref>The Runic Tarot. Gebo has no murkstave. By Caroline Smith, John Astrop. Page 24. Macmillan, Feb 1, 2005. 9780312321925</ref>
The ''gyfu'' rune is sometimes used as a symbol within modern [[mysticism]], particularly amongst those interested in [[Celtic mythology]]. It's described, for example, in the book ''The Runic Tarot'' as a representation of the giving-receiving balance in [[friendship]]s.<ref>The Runic Tarot. Gebo has no murkstave. By Caroline Smith, John Astrop. Page 24. Macmillan, Feb 1, 2005. 9780312321925</ref>


==Anglo-Saxon ''gār'' rune==
==Anglo-Saxon ''gār'' rune==
In addition to ''gyfu'', the [[futhorc|Anglo-Saxon futhorc]] has the ''gār'' rune {{angbr|{{Runic|ᚸ}}}}, named after a species of [[Migration Period spear|medieval spear]]. It is attested epigraphically on the Ruthwell Cross, and also appears in 11th-century manuscript tradition. Phonetically, ''gār'' represents the /g/ sound. It is a modification of the plain gyfu rune {{Runic|ᚷ}}.
In addition to ''gyfu'', the [[futhorc|Anglo-Saxon futhorc]] has the ''gār'' rune {{angbr|{{Runic|ᚸ}}}}, named after a species of [[Migration Period spear|medieval spear]]. It is attested epigraphically on the Ruthwell Cross, and also appears in 11th-century manuscript tradition. Phonetically, ''gār'' represents the /g/ sound. It is a modification of the plain gyfu rune {{Runic|ᚷ}}.


Old English ‘gār’ means ‘spear’, but the name of the rune likely echoes the rune names ''[[Jēran|ger]], [[Ear (rune)|ear]], ior'': due to palatalization in Old English, the original ''g'' rune (i.e., the ''Gyfu'' rune {{angbr|{{Runic|ᚷ}}}}) could express either /j/ or /g/ (see [[yogh]]). The ''ger'' unambiguously expressed /j/, and the newly{{when|date=April 2022}} introduced ''gar'' rune had the purpose of unambiguously expressing /g/.
Old English 'gār' means 'spear', but the name of the rune likely echoes the rune names ''[[Jēran|ger]], [[Ear (rune)|ear]], ior'': due to palatalization in Old English, the original ''g'' rune (i.e., the ''Gyfu'' rune {{angbr|{{Runic|ᚷ}}}}) could express either /j/ or /g/ (see [[yogh]]). The ''ger'' unambiguously expressed /j/, and the newly{{when|date=April 2022}} introduced ''gar'' rune had the purpose of unambiguously expressing /g/.


''Gār'' is the 33rd and final rune in the row as given in [[List of manuscripts in the Cotton library#Domitian|Cotton Domitian]] A.ix.
''Gār'' is the 33rd and final rune in the row as given in [[List of manuscripts in the Cotton library#Domitian|Cotton Domitian]] A.ix.


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Armanen runes]], 19th-century [[pseudo-runes]] of which the 17th charachter it similar to ''Gyfu''
*[[Armanen runes#Gibor rune|Armanen runes § Gibor]], 19th-century [[pseudo-runes]] of which the 18th character's name is similar to '''*gebô'''


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
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{{Runes}}
{{Runes}}

[[Category:Runes]]
[[Category:Runes]]


{{writingsystem-stub}}
{{writingsystem-stub}}

Latest revision as of 22:53, 23 December 2024

NameProto-GermanicOld English
*GebōGyfuGār
'gift''gift'"spear"
ShapeElder FutharkFuthorc
Unicodeᚷ
U+16B7
ᚷ
U+16B7
ᚸ
U+16B8
Transliterationgȝg
Transcriptiongȝ, gg
IPA[ɣ][g], [ɣ], [ʎ], [j][g]
Position in
rune-row		7733
This article contains runic characters. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of runes.

Gyfu is the name for the g-rune ᚷ in the Anglo-Saxon rune poem, meaning 'gift' or 'generosity':

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem:[1] English Translation:

ᚷ Gẏfu gumena bẏþ gleng and herenẏs,
ƿraþu and ƿẏrþscẏpe and ƿræcna gehƿam
ar and ætƿist, ðe bẏþ oþra leas.

Generosity brings credit and honour, which support one's dignity;
it furnishes help and subsistence
to all broken men who are devoid of aught else.

The corresponding letter of the Gothic alphabet is 𐌲 g, called giba. The same rune also appears in the Elder Futhark, with a suggested Proto-Germanic name *gebô 'gift'. J. H. Looijenga speculates[2] that the rune is directly derived from Latin Χ, the pronunciation of which may have been similar to Germanic g in the 1st century, e.g., Gothic *reihs compared to Latin rex (as opposed to the Etruscan alphabet, where X/𐌗 had a value of [s]).

The gyfu rune is sometimes used as a symbol within modern mysticism, particularly amongst those interested in Celtic mythology. It's described, for example, in the book The Runic Tarot as a representation of the giving-receiving balance in friendships.[3]

Anglo-Saxon gār rune

[edit]

In addition to gyfu, the Anglo-Saxon futhorc has the gār rune ⟨ᚸ⟩, named after a species of medieval spear. It is attested epigraphically on the Ruthwell Cross, and also appears in 11th-century manuscript tradition. Phonetically, gār represents the /g/ sound. It is a modification of the plain gyfu rune ᚷ.

Old English 'gār' means 'spear', but the name of the rune likely echoes the rune names ger, ear, ior: due to palatalization in Old English, the original g rune (i.e., the Gyfu rune ⟨ᚷ⟩) could express either /j/ or /g/ (see yogh). The ger unambiguously expressed /j/, and the newly[when?] introduced gar rune had the purpose of unambiguously expressing /g/.

Gār is the 33rd and final rune in the row as given in Cotton Domitian A.ix.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Original poem and translation from the Rune Poem Page Archived 1999-05-01 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ J.H. Looijenga, Runes Around the North Sea and on the Continent Ad 150-700, PhD diss. Groningen 1997, p. 56. Download PDF
  3. ^ The Runic Tarot. Gebo has no murkstave. By Caroline Smith, John Astrop. Page 24. Macmillan, Feb 1, 2005. 9780312321925
[edit]
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