Viking Rune Bead Perthro: The One Whose Meaning No One Knows
Specifications
| Color | Bronze |
| Material | Zinc alloy, patinated bronze finish |
| Dimensions | Height: 10 mm | Diameter: 8 mm | Hole: 6 mm |
| For | Unisex |
- For: men and women (adults)
- Zinc alloy, patinated bronze finish
- 6 mm hole · worn on a beard or hair braid
- Sold individually, height 10 mm, diameter 8 mm
- Free shipping from 49€ · secure payment
Perthro — the enigma of the Futhark, and we prefer to keep it that way
A shape open to the right, like a lying vessel, engraved in an oval cartouche on a beard and hair bead made of bronze-patinated alloy. Perthro is the fourteenth rune of the Elder Futhark, and the only one whose meaning remains frankly unknown.
Find this design in our collection of Viking beard and hair beads.
What sets this beard bead apart
- Only one rune poem mentions it, and its stanza is renowned for being the most obscure in the entire corpus.
- The rune for those who prefer an open question to an invented meaning.
- A slide-on, not a clasp: the bead slides onto the lock before braiding. The fullness of the braid holds it in place, so there is nothing that can break.
- Hole diameter of about 6 mm: the only criterion that really matters. It must be slightly narrower than the finished braid, and slightly wider than the loose lock of hair.
Specifications
- Material: Zinc alloy, bronze-patinated finish
- Inner hole: approximately 6 mm
- Dimensions: approximately 10 mm high, 8 mm in diameter
- Usage: beard, mustache, or hair, on a braided lock
- Sold: individually
Did you know?
The Anglo-Saxon rune poem says of peorð that it is “always play and laughter for proud men, where warriors sit, joyful, in the beer hall.” That is all. No other source glosses it. The most common hypothesis suggests a dice cup or a game piece, which would fit the context of the hall; others see it as a musical instrument, a fruit tree, or a womb. Modern esoteric manuals readily attribute fate and secrecy to it—but no ancient source says anything of the sort, and neither will we.
To learn more, our Viking hairstyle guide details cuts, braids, and beards with supporting sources, and our Futhark alphabet guide covers each sign one by one.
Complete your set
What does the Perthro rune mean?
Nobody knows for sure. Only one source mentions it, the Anglo-Saxon rune poem, which associates it with games and laughter in the beer hall.
Is Perthro the rune of fate?
That's a modern esoteric reading, not something found in the sources. No ancient text links this sign to fate or to secrecy.
What does its shape represent?
The most common hypothesis sees it as a dice cup or a game piece, which would fit the context given by the poem. Other readings exist; none of them is proven.
How thick a strand does this bead fit?
The hole measures about 6 mm, which suits a medium-thickness beard braid or a thin braid of hair.
Delivery — Allow 7 to 15 business days for mainland France, 10 to 20 days for the European Union. Free delivery on orders over €49.
Delivery guarantee — If your parcel is not delivered within 60 business days, we will provide an immediate reshipment or a full refund.
14-day returns — You have 14 calendar days from receipt to request an exchange or refund. The item must be returned within this period, in its original packaging.
Legal guarantees — All our products are covered by the legal guarantee of conformity and the guarantee against hidden defects, in accordance with the Consumer Code and the Civil Code.
