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The sequence ''alu'' () is found in numerous Elder Futhark runic inscriptions of Germanic Iron Age Scandinavia (and more rarely in early Anglo-Saxon England) between the 3rd and the 8th century. The word usually appears either alone (such as on the Elgesem runestone) or as part of an apparent formula (such as on the Lindholm "amulet" (DR 261) from Scania, Sweden). The symbols represent the runes Ansuz, Laguz, and Uruz. The origin and meaning of the word are matters of dispute, though a general agreement exists among scholars that the word represents an instance of historical runic magic or is a metaphor (or metonym) for it.〔Macleod (2006:24).〕 It is the most common of the early runic charm words.〔Macleod (2006:1009)〕 The word disappears from runic inscriptions shortly after Migration Period, even before the Christianization of Scandinavia.〔Macleod (2006:100-101).〕 It may have lived on beyond this period with an increasing association with ale, appearing in stanzas 7 and 19 of the Old Norse poem ''Sigrdrífumál'', compiled in the 13th century ''Poetic Edda'', where knowledge of invocative "ale runes" (Old Norse ölrúnar) is imparted by the Valkyrie Sigrdrífa.〔Orchard (1997:5).〕 Theories have been suggested that the unique term ''ealuscerwen'' (possibly "pouring away of ''alu''"), used to describe grief or terror in the epic poem ''Beowulf'', recorded around the 9th to 11th century, may be directly related.〔 ==Etymology== Although the literal meaning of the word ''alu'' is generally accepted to be "ale," i.e. "intoxicating beverage," researchers have found it necessary to look deeper into the significance of the term. Earlier proposed etymologies for the word sought a connection with Proto-Germanic *aluh "amulet, taboo" from *alh "protect."〔Simek (1995:16-17).〕 Cognates in Germanic dialects would include Old English ''ealh'' "temple," Gothic ''alhs'' "temple," and Old Norse ''alh'' "amulet."〔Fick (1909:21).〕 Edgar Polomé initially proposed an etymological connection between Germanic ''alu'' and Hittite ''alwanza'' "affected by witchcraft," which is in turn connected to Greek ''alúõ'' "to be beside oneself" and Latvian ''aluôt'' "to be distraught." This etymology was later proven faulty and subsequently dropped by Polomé, though he continues to suggest that a common semantic denominator connects these words with ''alu''.〔Polomé (1995:244-264).〕 Linguistic connections have been proposed between the term and the Proto-Germanic term '' *aluþ'', meaning "ale," and subsequently the word is sometimes translated as meaning "ale,"〔Flowers (2006:75).〕〔Runic text according to (Projektet Samnordisk Runtextdatabas ) - Rundata for Windows 2.0.〕 though this linguistic approach has been criticized as having "crucial difficulties."〔 Polomé takes the word to belong to the "technical operative vocabulary" of the Germanic peoples, originally referring to "an ecstatic mental state as transferred to a potent drink" used in religious rituals in Germanic paganism.〔 Raetian North Etruscan dedicatory votive objects have been discovered featuring ''alu'' where the term means "dedication". Connections have been proposed between these objects and the term ''alu'' found on runic inscriptions. Theories have been proposed that the term was loaned into Runic usage from this source.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Alu (runic)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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