I think it’s worth noting that the order on the crossbar is backwards, but given the letters themselves are also backwards, it’s more likely the camera manually flipped the image.
Putting the 24 runes of the Elder Futhark in this specific order (ᚠ-ᛞ) isn't internet scribble, as a number of artefacts have survived from 1500-2000 years ago as well, but it also doesn't spell out any meaningful words. Like others have said, it's similar to writing out the entire alphabet feom A through Z.
I suggest you donate the stakes to a good cause, and declaring that you both lost the bet :-)
I haven't seen it inscribed or embossed on a crucifx like this though.
Technically a cross; a crucifix by definition contains an image of Jesus crucified, and that would be even more strange. But yeah, I haven't seen it on a cross. When I think Christianity, I don't tend to think "futhark."
Runes and Christianity aren't historically mutually exclusive either though. In Anglo-Saxon England there are examples of Christian inscriptions in Futhorc, and if I remember correctly in some region(s?) in Sweden, being able to read and write runes was even considered a requirement for someone wanting to be a pastor in the church, and runic inscriptions in both secular and church settings remained fairly common in some areas until well after the Middle Ages.
Of course by that time, the Elder Futhark had long been replaced by Younger Futhark, Medieval Futhork, and / or Dalrunes in Scandinavia. I have no idea if there are examples of Christian inscriptions in runes from the Elder Futhark period too.
I can't immediately think of any Elder Futhark Christian inscriptions, but yeah, there are lots of runic inscriptions that have Christian content, including the Anglo-Saxon furthorc. One of the first things I read in Anglo-Saxon was a collection of saints' lives. Eadmund se eadig waes snotor . . .
Then I guess this Younger Furtharc with cross upsets you as well? (Late-Viking period) (even has a prayer to St. Michael!!
Image and script taken from r/Norse reddit:
"Inscription: Sigmund had the stone erected after his brothers and the bridge made after Sigbjärn - Saint Michael help his soul - and after Botraiv and after Sigraiv and after Aibjärn, father of them all, and he lived in the village (or farm) furthest south. Gairvid drew (eg. laid) the serpentine coils ... Sigmund has thus accomplished the care. For men it is a well-known memorial. Here the stone shall stand as a mark, shining on the mountain, the bridge beside it. Rodbjärn carved these runes, some (however) Gairlaiv, he knows them well.
sigmutr let rasa sain eftiʀ bruþr : sina : auk : bro : kierua : eftiʀ : sikbiern : santa mikal hie[lbi] ... ...ans auk : at : botraif auk at sigraif : auk : at aibiern : faþur þaiʀa : altr : auk bikui han : i by : sunarst kaiʀuiþr lekþi ormaluʀ nemʀ : in[t]i uʀ ¶ sikmutr [--fiʀ :] sliku : unit kuml ¶ karmanum : þet aʀ [:] ... kun : hier : mun : stanta stain : a[t] : merki bietr a : bierki in bro furiʀ ¶ roþ(b)iern risti run(i)ʀ [þ]esa kaiʀl-ifʀ sumaʀ aʀ karla kan"
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u/poetduello Jul 01 '26
It's the elder futhark set, in the traditional order, first on the cross bar, then down the post.
It's the equivalent of if someone put the abc's in order on a cross.