THIS is one of the rune-lore stanzas from the Eddic tale the Lay of Sigrdrifa. It describes the use of ‘victory-runes’ in what seems a clear description of an amuletic employment of runes, i.e. using them to create a magic sword. In fact ‘victory-runes’ (sigrúnar), or at least ‘battle-runes’ (valrúnar, wælrūn), are mentioned several times in both Old Norse and Old English literary sources, although not in circumstances that make it clear what they actually are. A similar description is also known from the Old English poem Solomon and Saturn, however, where we are told ‘On his weapon he inscribes a host of battle-marks (wælnota), baleful book-staves, (and) bewitches the blade in sword-fame.’ The Eddic Skirnir's Journey also at one point describes a sword as málfár ‘counseladorned’ and another seemingly related practice is described in Beowulf, where an owner's name is found inlaid in golden runes on the crosspiece of a sword reputedly forged by giants (i.e. one with a supernatural connection). Moreover, the practice of inscribing runes, especially names, on a sword's pommel, hilt or blade presumably in order to make it a better weapon is attested in several early English inscriptions.

The best known inscription of this sort is probably the one that appears on a short sword, a scramasax, found over a century ago in the River Thames.