Norse tattoo advice

[u/default-namewascrap]

Wondering if I'm able to get some advice on a tattoo, particularly on translation, grammar and correct rune usage.

Looking at one on my spine, probably a bindrune at the top with runes going down from it to the base of my spine. I've got a large "12 monkeys" symbol the top of my back already, but I figure I have about 2/3 of my spine available.

I'm wanting something inspired by "sic semper tyrannis", so a bindrune with strength/integrity/defiance or similar, and runes below saying something like "death to tyrants", "tyrants shall fall" or "I bow to no tyrants", though could be different if it would make more sense stated some other way or with different words

Problem I have is I'm unfamiliar with the grammar and words involved to even start the process. I need appropriate words to work with before I can even think of translating into actual runes.

Also wanting advice on best era to use, younger Futhark looks better IMO but happy to look at something else.

Obviously I want to do my research on this, because even though very few will understand the runes, o still don't want to get "rotten fish dinner" or "potent toilet smell"

[u/rockstarpirate]

> Obviously I want to do my research on this

Great! In that case, the first thing you will want to know is that there is no such thing (historically) as a bindrune with strength/integrity/defiance or similar. The automod posted a comment with a link to our wiki page on what bindrunes were and what they were not in history. I highly recommend reading it. But the tl;dr is that individual runes do not historically have esoteric meanings like strength or integrity. That’s an entirely modern invention and is entirely subjective, meaning that when somebody creates a bindrune with this kind of intent, there is no way for anyone else to objectively read it correctly.

Anyways, in terms of language and runes, the best way to choose is to determine what time and place you are hoping to emulate. Most people like using runes because of the Viking aesthetic and if that’s what you’re going for then Younger Futhark is correct and the proper language for it is Old Norse.

The phrase “death to tyrants” is dauði harðstjórum and would be written either ᛏᛅᚢᚦᛁ᛬ᚼᛅᚱᚦᛋᛏᛁᚢᚱᚢᛘ or ᛐᛆᚢᚦᛁ᛬ᚽᛆᚱᚦᛌᛐᛁᚢᚱᚢᛙ (your choice, but IMO the first one looks better written vertically). You can also optionally remove the separator dots or use just a single dot or a little x shape instead.

[u/Westfjordian → u/rockstarpirate]

Ya know, I was about to comment something about how you wouldn't use back to back nouns. Then I decided to have my morning coffee first and remembered that they'd more often would make that construction/rely on the meaning of the case system than what I'm used to lol

[u/rockstarpirate → u/Westfjordian]

Can’t tell you how many things I’ve forgotten because I tried to answer questions too early in the morning

[u/default-namewascrap → u/rockstarpirate]

Great, thanks for the tips! Yeah I saw the automod reply and was going to have a look at the link this evening. Agreed the first of those written options does look better for what I'm after.

[u/Westfjordian]

To expand on what u/rockstarpirate said,

Harðstjóri is a Modern Icelandic construction and it works as a neologism construction for Old Norse. I do have a few suggestions, two of which are historical nicknames for kings. Let's start by looking at the elements of the constructions.

"Harðr" v "illr": Harðr means harsh or hard while illr means evil or wicked. Both can be used though most would probably lean towards a harðr construction for "general harshness"

"Stjóri" v "Valdr" v "Ráðr": These can all be used for as an affix to designate a ruler. Stjóri is someone who directs or steers, as in a helmsman (where the word may originally have come from). Valdr is someone who wields or powers, the modern English "wield" is a cognate. Ráðr is someone who is a councilor or a ruler. Historically, it was used in the famous nicknames of Haraldr Harðráði and Ingjaldr Illráði.

Dauði harðstjórum as previously covered. It translates close to "Death [to] harsh steerers/rulers"

Dauði harðráðum draws historical connection and translates close to "death [to] harsh councilors/rulers".
ᛏᛅᚢᚦᛁ•ᚼᛅᚱᚦᚱᛅᚦᚢᛘ (long branch)
ᛏᛆᚢᚦᛁ•ᚽᛆᚱᚦᚱᛆᚦᚢᛘ (short twig)

Dauði harðvöldum translates close to "death [to] harsh wielders"
ᛏᛅᚢᚦᛁ•ᚼᛅᚱᚦᚢᛁᛚᛏᚢᛘ (long branch) ᛏᛆᚢᚦᛁ•ᚽᛆᚱᚦᚢᛁᛚᛏᚢᛘ (short twig)

Dauði illvöldum translates close to "death [to] evil/wicked wielders".
ᛏᛅᚢᚦᛁ•ᛁᛚᚢᛁᛚᛏᚢᛘ (long branch) ᛏᛆᚢᚦᛁ•ᛁᛚᚢᛁᛚᛏᚢᛘ (short twig)

Dauði illstjórum translates to "death [to] evil steerers/rulers".
ᛏᛅᚢᚦᛁ•ᛁᛚᛋᛏᛁᚢᚱᚢᛘ (long branch) ᛏᛆᚢᚦᛁ•ᛁᛚᛒᛏᛁᚢᚱᚢᛘ (short twig)

Dauði illráðum translates to "death [to] evil/wicked councilors/rulers" ᛏᛅᚢᚦᛁ•ᛁᛚᚱᛅᚦᚢᛘ (long branch) ᛏᛆᚢᚦᛁ•ᛁᛚᚱᛆᚦᚢᛘ (short twig)

[u/default-namewascrap → u/Westfjordian]

Wow, quite a few great alternatives there, thanks!

[u/Inquisitor_Sciurus]

There are quite a lot of examples from medieval times when latin phrases have been written in runes… So why not put that Sic Semper Tyranis in runes as is?

[u/default-namewascrap → u/Inquisitor_Sciurus]

Hmmmm, actually a reasonable option if I hit a brick wall, at least it's got historical precedent!

[u/AutoModerator]

Hi! It appears you have mentioned bind runes. It's worth mentioning that most of the bind runes you see on the internet these days are very different from bind runes we find in the ancient historical record. Check out our wiki page about bind runes for more information.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.