A rune is a character that represents an idea or concept in Norse mythology. These characters were used for writing, divination and magical purposes by the Germanic peoples from the 2nd to the 17th century. There are several different types of runes, including Elder Futhark, Younger Futhark, Armanen Runes, and Dalecarlian Runes. Each set has a slightly different meaning or use. Rune stones were often used for divination purposes to gain insight into the future or answer questions about events in one's life.