What is elder futhak?

Elder Futhark is an ancient runic script used by Germanic tribes in northern Europe during the 2nd to 8th centuries. The word "Futhark" comes from the first six letters of the runic alphabet – F, U, Th, A, R, K. The Elder Futhark consists of 24 runes, each of which is made up of straight lines and angles, unlike the curves and circles of later runic alphabets.

The runes were used for writing inscriptions, personal names, and divination by Germanic tribes such as the Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, and Goths. They were also believed to have magical properties and were often used in talismans and amulets.

The Elder Futhark runes were gradually replaced by the Younger Futhark and the Latin alphabet with the Christianization of the Germanic peoples. However, the use of runes persisted in some areas for centuries, particularly in Scandinavia where runes continued to be used for writing well into the Middle Ages. Today, the Elder Futhark is still studied and used by modern practitioners of Germanic neopaganism and occultism.