Viking Rune Bead Thurisaz: The Thorn and the Giant
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
Thurisaz, the Thorn — the rune that pricks those who grasp it poorly
A vertical stroke and a solid triangle, engraved in a cartouche on a beard and hair bead made of patinated bronze. Thurisaz is the most ambivalent rune of the Elder Futhark: depending on the tradition one reads, it names the giant, the hostile power — or simply the thorn.
Find this model in our collection of Viking beard and hair beads.
What sets this beard bead apart
- Two readings for a single sign: þurs, the giant in Old Norse, and þorn, the thorn in Old English. Both are attested.
- It is also the only rune whose letter has survived to this day: the modern Icelandic þ descends directly from it.
- Slide-on, not a clasp: the bead slips onto the lock before braiding. It is the fullness of the braid that secures it, so there is nothing that can break.
- Approx. 6 mm hole: the only criterion that truly matters. It should be slightly narrower than the finished braid, and slightly wider than the loose lock of hair.
Specifications
- Material: Zinc alloy, patinated bronze finish
- Inner hole: approx. 6 mm
- Dimensions: approx. 10 mm in height, 8 mm in diameter
- Wear: beard, mustache, or hair, on a braided lock
- Sold: individually
Did you know?
The Anglo-Saxon rune poem gives a blunt definition: the thorn is "exceedingly sharp, an evil thing for any warrior to touch, uncommonly severe for anyone who rests among them." None of the three runic traditions treat Thurisaz as a benevolent rune — it is a raw force, and the poem warns that it wounds the ill-placed hand.
To learn more, our Viking hairstyle guide details cuts, braids, and beards, with sources provided, and our Futhark alphabet guide covers each sign one by one.
Complete your set
What does the Thurisaz rune mean?
Thurisaz has two attested meanings: the giant, þurs in Old Norse, and the thorn, þorn in Old English. In both cases, it stands for a force that resists and can wound.
Is it a negative rune?
It's neither good nor evil: the rune poems describe it as a power that is dangerous to handle, not as a curse. It's the rune of what protects by pricking.
Was this rune used in the Viking Age?
The sound existed, but this shape belongs to the Elder Futhark, which is older. The Vikings wrote with the Younger Futhark, only sixteen signs, whose shapes differ.
How thick a strand does this bead fit?
A hole of about 6 mm: a medium-thickness beard braid, or a thin braid of hair. Thread it on before braiding.
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.
