Why did the Vikings name various items and weapons? To the Vikings, writing, the very act of setting down wisdom that may be used later, was mystical. By understanding symbols, it was thought that one could glean insight into the past and the future. With the power of writing, the properly trained could read and learn what the ignorant could not. Runes were therefore more than just letters to the Vikings. They were signs and holders of mystic power. By making runes, one drew a connection between the rune and the marked object; this meant that the rune associated its power with the subject. Thus, naming a drinking horn or a spear gave it a legendary character, carving runes upon such a device could invest it with true power.  With this knowledge, I will name my coffee cup "Full". #Norse #history #myculture #mythology #Viking