Younger Futhark · Hagall's Ætt
Íss
“Ice” · sound I · EESS
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What Íss means
Stillness, the frozen bridge, beauty that is dangerous — Ginnungagap's ice met fire and life was born
In the older 24-rune Elder Futhark, Íss corresponds to Isa.
Íss in the rune poems
The Norwegian and Icelandic rune poems are the medieval testimony to the sixteen Younger Futhark runes — the oldest verse describing each stave by name.
Ís köllum brú bræiða; / blindan þarf at læiða.
“Ice we call the broad bridge; the blind man must be led.”
Íss er árbörkr / ok unnar þak / ok feigra manna fár.
“Ice is the bark of rivers / and the roof of waves / and the doom of the doomed.”