Editing Algiz

{{short description|Rune of the Elder Futhark alphabet}}
{{rewrite|date=December 2021}}
{{npov|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox rune
| lang1 = pg | lang2 = oe | lang3 = on
| name1 = '''*Algiz'''<sup>?</sup>
| name2 = '''Eolhx'''<sup>?</sup>
| name3 = '''Yr'''
| meaning1 = "[[Moose|elk]]"(?)
| meaning2 = "[[Cladium mariscus|elk-sedge]]"<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kilker |first1=Mae |last2= |first2= |date=July 2017 |title=The 'Rune Poem' and the Anglo-Saxon Ecosemiosphere: Identifying the 'Eolh-Secg' in Man and Plant |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/34/article/665569 |journal=Journal of English and Germanic Philology |volume=116 |issue=3 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |pages=310-329 |doi= |access-date=2025-05-14}}</ref>
| meaning3 = "[[Taxus baccata|yew]]"
| shape12 = [[File:Runic letter algiz.svg|x50px|class=skin-invert-image]]
| shape3 = [[File:Yr rune.svg|x50px|class=skin-invert-image]]
| unicode hex12 = 16C9
| unicode hex3a = 16E6
| unicode hex3b = 16E7
| unicode hex3c = 16E8
| transliteration1 = '''z''' 
| transliteration2 = '''x''' 
| transliteration3a = '''ʀ''', '''y'''{{efn|name=Y|The Old Norse '''Yr''' rune {{runic|ᛦ}} (U+16E6) was later used to represent the letter Y (in competition with the “stung” [[Ur (rune)|u-rune]] {{runic|ᚤ}}) as the [[uvular trill]] (ʀ) sound was put under the [[Raido|r-rune]] {{runic|ᚱ}}, see ''[[Medieval runes]]''.}}
| transliteration3b = '''ʀ'''
| transliteration3c = '''ʀ'''
| transcription1 = ''z''
| transcription2 = ''x''
| transcription3a = ''ʀ'', ''y''
| transcription3b = ''ʀ''
| transcription3c = ''ʀ''
| IPA1 = {{IPA|[z]}}
| IPA2 = {{small|N/A}}{{efn|This rune did not represent any sound in Old English. Consequently, it has no IPA equivalent. The use of this rune completely ceased except in the transliteration of Latin where it did not represent a [[phoneme]] but a [[grapheme]].<ref>{{Citation |first=Michael |last=Barnes |title=Runes: a Handbook |place=Woodbridge |publisher=Boydell |year=2012 |pages=41}}</ref>}}
| IPA3a = {{IPA|[ɻ], [y]}}
| IPA3b = {{IPA|[ɻ]}}
| IPA3c = {{IPA|[ɻ]}}
| position12 = 15
| position3 = 16
}}
{{Contains special characters|Runic|width=30em}}
'''Algiz''' (also '''Elhaz''') is the name conventionally given to the "''z''-rune" {{runic|ᛉ}} of the [[Elder Futhark]] [[runic alphabet]]. Its transliteration is ''z'', understood as a phoneme of the [[Proto-Germanic language]], the terminal ''*z'' continuing [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] terminal ''*s'' via [[Verner's law]].{{cn|date=April 2024}}

It is one of two [[runes]] which express a phoneme that does not occur word-initially, and thus could not be named [[Acrophony|acrophonically]], the other being the ''ŋ''-rune [[Ingwaz rune|Ingwaz]] {{Runic|ᛜ}}. As the terminal ''*-z'' phoneme marks the nominative singular [[suffix]] of masculine nouns, the rune occurs comparatively frequently in [[Elder Futhark inscriptions|early epigraphy]].

Because this specific phoneme was lost at an early time, the Elder Futhark rune underwent changes in the medieval runic alphabets. In the [[Anglo-Saxon runes|Anglo-Saxon futhorc]] it retained its shape, but became otiose as it ceased to represent any sound in an Old English.<ref>{{Citation | first = Michael| last = Barnes| title = Runes: a Handbook | place = Woodbridge | publisher = Boydell | year = 2012| pages = 41}}</ref> However, possibly due to runic manuscript tradition, it was occasionally used to transliterate the Latin letter ''X'' into the runic script.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

In [[Proto-Norse language|Proto-Norse]] and [[Old Norse]], the Germanic ''*z'' phoneme developed into an R sound, perhaps realized as a [[retroflex approximant]] {{IPA|[ɻ]}},{{Citation needed|date=December 2024|reason=}} which is usually transcribed as ''ʀ''. This sound was written in the [[Younger Futhark]] using the '''Yr rune''' {{Runic|ᛦ}}, the Algiz rune turned upside down, from about the 7th century. This phoneme eventually became indistinguishable from the regular ''r'' sound in the later stages of Old Norse, at about the 11th or 12th century.

The shape of the rune may be derived from that of a letter expressing /x/ in certain [[Old Italic alphabets]] ({{script|Ital|𐌙}}),{{citation needed|date=January 2012}} which was in turn derived from the Greek letter [[Ψ]] which had the value of /kʰ/ (rather than /ps/) in the [[Western Greek alphabet]]. Alternatively, the rune may have been an original innovation, or it may have been adapted from the [[History of the Latin alphabet#Classical Latin period|classical Latin alphabet's]] ''Y'',<ref>{{Citation | last = Odenstedt | first = Bengt | year = 1990 | title = On the Origin and Early History of the Runic Script, Typology and Graphic Variation in the Older Futhark | place = Uppsala | isbn = 91-85352-20-9}}.</ref> or from the [[Rhaetic alphabets|Rhaetic alphabet's]] ''Z''.<ref>{{Citation | publisher = Uni Frankfurt | last = Gippert | first = Jost | url = http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/didact/idg/germ/runealph.htm | title = The Development of Old Germanic Alphabets | access-date = 2007-03-21 | archive-date = 2021-02-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210225051327/http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/didact/idg/germ/runealph.htm | url-status = live }}.</ref>

== Name ==
The Elder Futhark rune {{runic|ᛉ}} is conventionally called ''Algiz'' or ''Elhaz'', from the [[Common Germanic]] word for "[[moose|elk]]".{{cn|date=April 2024}}

There is wide agreement that this is most likely not the historical name of the rune, but in the absence of any positive evidence of what the historical name may have been, the conventional name is simply based on a reading of the rune name in the [[Anglo-Saxon rune poem]], first suggested by [[Wilhelm Grimm]] (''Über deutsche Runen'', 1821), as ''eolh'' or ''eolug'' "elk".

Like the [[Ingwaz rune|''ng''-rune]], the ''z''-rune is a special case inasmuch as it could not have been named acrophonically, since the sound it represents did not occur in word-initial position. Choosing a name that terminates in ''-z'' would have been more or less arbitrary, as this was the nominative singular suffix of almost every masculine noun of the language. Since the name ''eolh'', or more accurately ''eolh-secg'' "elk-sedge" in the Anglo-Saxon rune poem represents not the rune's original sound value, but rather the sound of Latin ''x'' (/ks/), it becomes highly arbitrary to suggest that the original rune should have been named after the elk.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

There are a number of speculative suggestions surrounding the history of the rune's name. The difficulty lies in the circumstance that the Younger Futhark rune did not inherit this name at all, but acquired the name of the obsolete [[Eihwaz]] rune, as ''yr''. The only independent evidence of the Elder Futhark rune's name would be the name of the corresponding [[Gothic alphabet|Gothic letter]], ''ezec''. The Gothic letter was an adoption of Greek [[Zeta]], and while it did express the /z/ phoneme, this Gothic sound only rarely occurred terminally. Instead, it is found mostly in positions where West and North Germanic have ''r'', e.g. Gothic ''máiza'' "greater" (Old Norse ''meira'', English ''more'').{{cn|date=April 2024}}

The name of the [[Anglo-Saxon runes|Anglo-Saxon rune]] {{runic|ᛉ}} is variously recorded as ''eolx, eolhx, ilcs, ilx, iolx, ilix, elux''.<ref name="griffiths">Alan Griffiths, 'Rune-names: the Irish connexion' in: Stoklund et al. (eds.), ''Runes and their secrets: studies in runology'', Museum Tusculanum Press, 2006, pp. 93-101.</ref>

Manuscript tradition gives its sound value as Latin ''x'', i.e. /ks/, or alternatively as ''il'', or yet again as "''l'' and ''x''". The reading of this opaque name as ''eolh'' "elk" is entirely due to the reading of the Anglo-Saxon rune poem's {{runic|ᛉ}} secg as ''eolh-secg'' (''eolx-secg'', ''eolug-secg'', ''eolxecg'') "elk-sedge", apparently the name of a species of sedge (''[[Carex]]''). This reading of the poem is due to Wilhelm Grimm (1821), and remains standard. The suggestion is that this compound is realized as ''eol'''k-s'''ecg'', thus containing the Latin ''x'' (/ks/) sound sequence. The manuscript testimony that the rune is to be read as ''il'' would then be simply a mistaken assumption that its name must be acrophonic.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

The name of the corresponding Gothic letter ''ezec'', however, suggests that the old name of this rune was not just ''eolx'', but the full ''eolh-secg''. This is puzzling, because the sound value of the rune was clearly not /ks/ in the Elder Futhark period (2nd to 4th centuries). Furthermore, the name of the sedge in question is recorded in the older [[Epinal-Erfurt glossary]] as ''ilugsegg'' (glossing ''papiluus'', probably for ''papyrus''), which cannot be derived from the word for elk.<ref>Bruce Dickins, ''Runic and Heroic Poems of the Old Teutonic Peoples'', Cambridge, 1915, p. 17, note 41.</ref>

A suggestion by Warren and Elliott takes the Old English ''eolh'' at face value, and reconstructs a Common Germanic form of either ''*algiz'' or ''*alhiz''. They cite a "more fanciful school" which assumes an original meaning of "elk" based on a theonym ''[[Alcis (gods)|Alcis]]'' recorded by Tacitus (suggesting that the name would have been theophoric in origin, referring to an "elk-god"). The authors dismiss the Old English "elk-sedge" as a late attempt to give the then-obsolete rune a value of Latin ''x''. Instead, they suggest that the original name of the rune could have been Common Germanic ''*algiz'' ('Algie'), meaning not "elk" but "protection, defence".<ref>Ralph Warren, Victor Elliott, ''Runes: an introduction'', Manchester University Press ND, 1980, 51-53.</ref>

Redbond (1936) suggested that the ''eolhx'' (etc.) may have been a corruption of ''helix''. Seebold (1991) took this up to suggest that the name of the rune may be connected to the use of ''elux'' for ''helix'' by [[Notker the Stammerer|Notker]] to describe the constellation of [[Ursa Major]] (as turning around the celestial pole).<ref name="griffiths"/>

An earlier suggestion is that of [[Julius Zacher|Zacher]] (1855), to the effect that the earliest value of this rune was the labiovelar /hw/, and that its name may have been ''hweol'' "wheel".<ref>Julius Zacher, "Die rune eolh" in: ''Das gothische Alphabet Vulfilas und das Runenalphabet'', Brockhaus, 1855, 72-120.</ref>

== {{runic|ᛉ}} – Elder Futhark ==
[[File:R-runes.jpg|thumb|The varying forms of the rune in the Elder futhark during the centuries.]]
In the [[Elder Futhark]], Algiz represents the Germanic phoneme ''*z'', which does not occur word-initially.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

It is attested in final position in the earliest inscriptions, e.g. in ''[[ansuz]]'' ([[Vimose|Vimose buckle]]), ''þewaz'' ([[Thorsberg chape]]). It was presumably present in the [[Ovre Stabu spearhead]] inscription (ca. AD 180), reading ''raunija[z]'', but is hardly legible now. The Nydam axe-handle (4th century) has the name ''wagagastiz''. The [[Golden Horns of Gallehus]] (early 5th century) had the personal name ''hlewagastiz holtijaz''.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

In the earliest inscriptions, the rune invariably has its standard Ψ-shape. From the 5th century or so, the rune appears optionally in its upside-down variant which would become the standard Younger Futhark ''yr'' shape. There are also other graphical variants; for example, the [[Charnay Fibula]] has a superposition of these two variants, resulting in an "asterisk" shape ({{runic|ᛯ}}).{{cn|date=April 2024}}

== {{runic|ᛉ}} – Anglo-Saxon futhorc ==
{{main|Anglo-Saxon runes}}
The name of the Anglo-Saxon rune {{runic|ᛉ}} is variously recorded as ''eolx, ilcs, ilix, elux, eolhx''. Manuscript tradition gives its sound value as Latin ''x'', i.e. /ks/, or alternatively as ''il'', or yet again as "''l'' and ''x''". The relevant stanza of the [[Anglo-Saxon rune poem]] reads:<ref>Dickins, Bruce, ''[https://archive.org/details/runicandheroicpo00dickuoft Runic and heroic poems of the old Teutonic peoples]'' (1915), p. 16.</ref>
:{{runic|ᛉ}} {{lang|ang|sec}}[g e]{{lang|ang|ard hæfþ oftust on fenne}}
:{{lang|ang|ƿexeð on ƿature, ƿundaþ grimme}}
:{{lang|ang|blode breneð beorna gehƿẏlcne}}
:{{lang|ang|ðe him ænigne onfeng gedeþ.}}
Reading the rune as ''eolhx'' (as discussed [[#Name|above]]), and with the emendation of ''seccard'' to ''secg eard'' due to Grimm (1821), the stanza becomes about a species of sedge (''[[Cladium mariscus]]'') called "elk-sedge". In the translation of Page (1999):<ref name="PAGE71">Page (1999:71).</ref>
:The Elk-sedge usually lives in the fen,<!--Dickins: (the ?-sedge) is mostly found in a marsh-->
:growing in the water. It wounds severely,<!--it grows in the water and makes a ghastly wound-->
:staining with blood any man<!--covering in blood every warrior who touches it-->
:who makes a grab at it.

The 9th-century ''abecedarium anguliscum'' in [[Codex Sangallensis 878]] shows ''eolh'' as a peculiar shape, as it were a [[bindrune]] of the older {{runic|ᛉ}} with the Younger Futhark {{runic|ᛦ}}, resulting in an "asterisk" shape similar to ''ior'' {{Runic|ᛡ}}.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

The only known instance where the rune does take the sound value of Latin ''x'' in epigraphy is the spelling of ''rex'' "king" on the interlace [[coin die]]s of king [[Beonna]] (mid 8th century). Furthermore, it appears in the inscription on [[St Cuthbert's coffin]] (late 7th century) in the abbreviation of the name [[Christ]], where Greek [[Nomina sacra|ΧΡΣ]] is taken as Latin ''xps'' and rendered as runic ᛉᛈᛋ.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

== {{runic|ᛦ}} – Younger Futhark ==
{{Redirect|Ʀ|its lower case form "ʀ"|uvular trill}}

In the 6th and 7th centuries, the Elder Futhark began to be replaced by the [[Younger Futhark]] in Scandinavia. By the 8th century, the Elder Futhark was extinct, and Scandinavian runic inscriptions were exclusively written in Younger Futhark.

The '''Yr rune''' {{runic|ᛦ}} is a [[rune]] of the [[Younger Futhark]]. Its common transliteration is a [[small capital]] ''ʀ''. The shape of the ''Yr'' rune in the Younger Futhark is the inverted shape of the Elder Futhark rune ({{runic|ᛉ}}). Its name ''yr'' ("[[Taxus baccata|yew]]") is taken from the name of the Elder Futhark [[Eihwaz]] rune.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

Its phonological value is the continuation of the phoneme represented by Algiz, the word-final ''*-z'' in [[Proto Germanic]]. In [[Proto-Norse]] it is pronounced closer to {{IPAslink|r}}, perhaps {{IPAslink|ɻ}}. Within later Old Norse, the Proto-Norse phoneme collapses with {{IPA|/r/}} by the 12th century.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

[[Unicode]] has {{Unichar|0280}} ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]’s symbol for the [[uvular trill]]). A corresponding capital letter is at {{Unichar|1a6}}. The rune itself is encoded at {{Unichar|16e6}}. Its variants are {{Unichar|16e7}} ({{runic|ᛧ}}) and {{Unichar|16e8}} ({{runic|ᛨ}}).<ref>[https://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/01a6/index.htm Unicode Character 'LATIN LETTER YR' (U+01A6) at Fileformat.info].
[https://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/0280/index.htm Unicode Character 'LATIN LETTER SMALL CAPITAL R' (U+0280)]</ref>

== Derivatives ==
=== {{runic|ᛘ}} – Younger Futhark ===
{{main|Maðr}}
Independently, the shape of the Elder Futhark Algiz rune reappears in the Younger Futhark ''Maðr'' rune {{runic|ᛘ}}, continuing the Elder Futhark {{runic|ᛗ}} rune ''[[Mannaz|*Mannaz]]''.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

=== {{runic|ᛣ}} – Anglo-Saxon ===
{{main|Cen (rune)}}
The Anglo-Saxon k-rune [[ᛣ]] (''Calc'') has the same shape as Younger Futhark ''yr'', but is unrelated in origin, being a modification or "doubling" of the c-rune {{runic|[[ᚳ]]}} (''Cēn'').<ref>{{cite web |title=Sveriges runinskrifter. 1970 Bd 5 H5. Västergötlands runinskrifter. ISSN 0562-8016 |url=https://www.raa.se/runinskrifter/sri_vastergotland_b05_h05_text_2.pdf |website=raa.se |publisher=[[Swedish National Heritage Board]] ({{langx|sv|Riksantikvarieämbetet; RAÄ}}) |access-date=2024-06-17 |page=444}}</ref>

== Modern usage ==
{{main|Runes#Modern use}}

=== "Life rune" and "death rune" ===

19th Century German occultist [[Guido von List]] introduced the use of the [[Armanen Runes|Armanen Futharkh]], which were based on the Elder & Younger Futhark. In List's context, the ''Man'' rune (identical in shape to the Elder Futhark ''Algiz'') came to be understood in the [[Germanic mysticism]] of the early 20th century as symbolizing "life" and called the "life rune" ({{langx|de|Lebensrune}}). This term occurs as early as the 1920s in the literature of [[Ariosophy]].<ref>Hermann Schwarz, ''Gott jenseits von theismus und pantheismus'', Junker und Dünnhaupt, 1928.[https://books.google.com/books?id=TX5CAAAAIAAJ&q=lebensrune]</ref>

The ''Yr'' rune from the Younger Futhark came to be seen as the "life rune" inverted, and so interpreted as "death rune" (''{{lang|de|Todesrune}}'').

=== Nazism ===
[[File:Deutsches Apotheken-Logo mit Lebensrune.jpg|thumb|upright|Nazi-era pharmacy logo with the white "life rune".<ref>The logo was introduced by the ''Deutsche Apothekerschaft'' (pharmacists' association) in 1936 on the request of chief pharmacist Albert Schmierer (1899–1974). The symbol was also used in the official emblems of the physicians' and dentists' associations. [https://www.deutsches-apotheken-museum.de/sammlung/museumsobjekte/zur-geschichte-des-apothekenwahrzeichens Elisabeth Huwer, Zur Geschichte des Apothekenwahrzeichens (deutsches-apotheken-museum.de)].</ref>]]
[[File:Todesrune Mauhausen Arolsen Archives DocID128711277.jpg|thumb|Prisoner registry card from Mauthausen-Gusen Nazi Concentration Camp with “death rune” used to indicate the prisoner’s date of death (ᛦ 13.X.42)]]
[[File:Grabstein PZ.jpg|thumb|upright|Contemporary (1999) use of the "life rune"/"death rune" notation in a grave marker in [[Niederaula]], Germany. Such usage of the "Totenrune" saw a resurgence during the Nazi era.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vikingrune.com/2009/07/norse-runic-third-reich-symbols/|title = Norse Rune Symbols and the Third Reich}}</ref>]]

Guido von List's beliefs incorporated [[antisemitism]] and [[volkism]], and his runic system was later adopted and modified by [[Karl Maria Wiligut]] who was responsible for their adoptions in [[Nazi occultism]]. Algiz came to be widely used within the [[Nazi Party]] and [[Nazi Germany]], e.g. in official prescriptions for the various uniforms of the ''{{lang|de|[[Sturmabteilung]]}}''.<ref>Robert Ley, ''Organisationsbuch der NSDAP'' (1943)[https://books.google.com/books?id=dCwMAQAAIAAJ&q=lebensrune].</ref>

During the [[World War II]] era, the "life-rune" and "death rune" came to be used in obituaries and on tomb stones as marking birth and death dates ({{Runic|ᛉ}} for "born", {{Runic|ᛦ}} for "died"), replacing asterisk and cross symbols (* for "born", † for "died") conventionally used in this context in Germany. It has always been clear that this association is an innovation of modern esotericism, without direct precedent in the medieval usage of the Younger Futhark alphabet. This fact was pointed out in an article in the German journal ''[[Stimmen der Zeit]]'' as early as in 1940.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=6BEJAQAAIAAJ&q=lebensrune ''Stimmen der Zeit'', vol. 137, Abtei Maria Laach, Herder, 1940]</ref>

=== Pop culture ===

The neo-folk group [[Death in June]] used the Algiz in their cover of their double LP ''[[The World That Summer|The Wörld Thät Sümmer]],'' alongside their "Totenkopf 6" logo.

The term "death rune" has been used in the context of esotericist or occultist aesthetics associated with [[black metal]], in the name of ''Deathrune Records'' (as of 2011), formerly ''{{lang|de|Die Todesrune}} Records'', a minor black metal record label.<ref>[http://www.metal-archives.com/labels/Die_Todesrune_Records/905 Die Todesrune Records], [[Encyclopaedia Metallum]] (2011).</ref>

=== Contemporary neopaganism ===

As with other Futhark runes, Algiz is commonly used as a symbol of [[Modern Paganism|neopagan]] faith.

Following [[Ralph Blum]] (1982), the Algiz rune is given a sense of "protection" in some modern systems of [[runic divination]].<ref>e.g. "Protection, a shield. The protective urge to shelter oneself or others. Defense, warding off of evil, shield, guardian" [http://sunnyway.com/runes/meanings.html Meanings of the Runes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090919064540/http://sunnyway.com/runes/meanings.html |date=2009-09-19 }} (sunnyway.com). "It is a powerful rune of protection and, spiritually, it symbolizes reaching up to the divine." [http://www.runemaker.com/futhark/algiz.shtml ALGIZ - The Rune of Protection and Opportunity] (runemaker.com).
"protection, assistance, defense, warning, support, a mentor, an ethical dilemma" [http://www.runestones.com/RuneMeaning.htm The Meanings of the Runes] (runestones.com).</ref>
Blum (1982) himself glosses for ''Algiz'' with "Protection; Sedge or Rushes; An Elk".<ref>Blum (1982), pp. 86f.
"The protection of the Warrior is like the curved horns of the elk, or like the sedge grass, for both serve to keep open space around you."<!--yes this is gibberish, we still have to cite it because it seems to be the origin of all "runic divination" systems-->

Blum's gloss "protection" is apparently inspired by the "more fanciful school" deriving the rune's name from ''Alcis'' cited by Warren and Elliot (1980, discussed [[#Name|above]])<!--Blum does not cite Warren and Elliot, but they themselves attribute the idea to an older "fanciful school", the originator of this "Alcis" idea remains to be determined.--></ref>

===Contemporary fascism===

Due to its use in Nazi Germany, Algiz is also used as a present-day fascist symbol, including use in white supremacism<ref>https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/life-rune</ref> and ecofascism.<ref>https://dspace.cuni.cz/bitstream/handle/20.500.11956/178352/120430333.pdf</ref> Contemporary examples include use by the American [[National Alliance (United States)|National Alliance]] (as of 2007),<ref name=NATALL>From the official National Alliance website: "The Life Rune signifies life, creation, birth, rebirth, and renewal. It expresses in a single symbol the ''raison d’etre'' of the National Alliance and of the movement of Aryan renewal." [http://www.natall.com/rune.html "The Life Rune: an ancient symbol used by the National Alliance"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708074201/http://www.natall.com/rune.html |date=2007-07-08 }} (natall.com).</ref> and in reference to the Algiz rune in the logo of the [[Flemish nationalist]] {{lang|nl|[[Voorpost]]}} as ''levensrune'' (as of 2016).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160310011850/https://www.voorpost.org/ons-symbool-de-algiz-rune/ Ons symbool, de Algiz rune (voorpost.org)]</ref>
[[File:Пам'ятник чекістам, Кропивницький.jpg|thumb|Memorial to the [[Cheka]] in Ukraine, vandalized with Algiz and Yr runes (lower left).]]
Since Algiz is also commonly used by non-racist groups and individuals, the rune does not automatically indicate the presence of fascism or racism: its meaning depends on the context where it is used.<ref>"Because the Life Rune also continues to be used by non-racists, typically adherents of neo-pagan religions, one should not simply assume that a particular use of this symbol is racist, but should carefully judge it in its context." https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/life-rune</ref><ref>https://beltane.org/2017/10/30/runing-as-a-symbol-of-togetherness</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Elder Futhark]]
*[[Younger Futhark]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{refbegin|2}}
* Dobbie, Elliott Van Kirk (1942). ''The Anglo-Saxon Minor Poems''. Columbia University Press. {{ISBN|0-231-08770-5}}.
* Page, R. I. (1999). [https://books.google.com/books?id=SgpriZdKin0C ''An Introduction to English Runes'']. Boydell Press, page 71. {{ISBN|0-85115-946-X}}.
{{refend}}

{{Runes}}

[[Category:Runes]]