Runes

The first letters of the runic alphabet have the powers of the letters f, u, th, o, r, c, for which reason the order of the runic letters is called not an alphabet but a FUTHORC or FUPARK, the p equalling th.

The system is both symbolic and representative of different sounds, as outlined below:

The first quantity or letter is said to represent the head of an ox and is called 'feoh' after that animal.

The second is called 'ur' after the word for bull.

The third  is 'thoru' - a tree.

The fourth is 'os' which means a door.

The fifth is 'rad' meaning a saddle.

The sixth is 'caen' - a torch.

It is thought that the whole system was derived from a purely pictorial alphabet in which the pictures of the letters stood for animals or objects.