Mannaz

Mannaz is the conventional name for the m-rune ᛗ of the Elder Futhark. It is derived from the reconstructed common Germanic word for "man," mannaz.

In the Younger Futhark, ᛘ is maðr ("man"). It adopted the shape of the Algiz-rune ᛉ and replaced the Elder Futhark ᛗ.

As its phonetic value and form in the Elder Futhark indicate, it is derived from the letter M (𐌌) in the Old Italic alphabets, ultimately from the Greek letter Mu (Μ).

Rune Poems

The rune is mentioned in all three rune poems, as maðr in the Norwegian and Icelandic poems and as man in the Anglo-Saxon poem.

Rune Poem

Translation

Norwegian
ᛉ Maðr er moldar auki;
mikil er græip á hauki.

Man is the enlargement of dust;
great is the claw of the falcon.

Icelandic
ᛉ Maðr er manns gaman
ok moldar auki
ok skipa skreytir.

Man is the joy of man,
and the enlargement of the earth,
and the adornment of ships.

Anglo-Saxon
ᛗ Man byþ on myrgþe sein magan leof:
sceal þeah anra gehƿylc oðrum sƿican,
forðum drihten ƿyle dome sine
þæt earme flæsc eorþan betæcan.

The joyful man is beloved by his kin;
yet every man is doomed to disappoint
his neighbour,
as the Lord, through His judgment,
hands over the common carrion of the earth.

Modern Usage

For the "man" rune of the Armanen Futhark as the "Life Rune" in Germanic mysticism, see Life Rune.