{{Short description|Proto-Norse word, translated as magician or rune master}} [[Image:Järsberg Vr1.jpg|thumb|right|The Järsberg Runestone is from the 6th century and contains the statement: ''ek erilaz''.]]'''''Erilaz''''' or '''''Erilaʀ''''' is a Migration period Proto-Norse word attested on various Elder Futhark inscriptions, which has often been interpreted to mean "magician" or "rune master",<ref name="Eythórsson">*{{cite book |title=Variation in the Syntax of theOlder Runic Inscriptions|last=Eythórsson |first=Thórhallur |publisher=Kulturhistorisk museum (KHM) |page=34 |accessdate=5 August 2017 |url=https://www.academia.edu/1798262}}</ref> i.e., one who is capable of writing runes to magical effect. However, as Mees<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mees |first1=B. |title=Runic 'erila<small>R</small>' |journal=North-Western European Language Evolution (NOWELE)' |date=2003 |volume=42 |pages=41-68}}</ref> has shown, the word is an ablaut variant of earl, and is also thought to be linguistically related to the name of the tribe of the Heruli, so it is probably merely an old Germanic military title (see etymology below).

==Etymology== This word is likeliest the Proto-Germanic ancestor of Anglo-Saxon ''eorl'' (Modern English ''earl'') and its relatives, meaning "man, warrior, noble". The word ''erilaz'' is likely a derivative of {{wikt-lang|gem-x-proto|*erǭ}} sb.f. "fight, battle", thus the interpretation "one who fights, warrior", though it has also been connected to {{wikt-lang|gem-x-proto|*arô}} sb.m. "eagle".<ref> Cf. Orel (2003:85).</ref>

Historical instances: *Latin: Heruli (dating from around 250 AD onwards) *Greek: Eruloi (dating from around 250 AD onwards) *Runic: Erilaz (dating from around 200 AD - 400 AD)

==Inscriptions== ===Lindholm "amulet"=== {{Main|Lindholm amulet}} The Lindholm "amulet" (DR 261 $U) is a bone piece found in Skåne, dated to the 2nd to 4th centuries. The inscription contains the word ''Erilaz''.

===Funen shaft=== {{Main|Kragehul I}} The '''Kragehul I''' (DR 196 U) spear-shaft found in Funen<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.runenprojekt.uni-kiel.de/abfragen/standard/deutung2.asp?findno=25&ort=Kragehul&objekt=Speer%2D%2FLanzenschaft |title=Kiel Rune Project |access-date=2007-02-05 |archive-date=2007-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929093033/http://www.runenprojekt.uni-kiel.de/abfragen/standard/deutung2.asp?findno=25&ort=Kragehul&objekt=Speer-%2FLanzenschaft |url-status=dead }}</ref> that bears the inscription: {{poem quote|text={{lang|non| ekerilazasugisalasmuhahaitegagaga […] ek erilaz asugisalas muha haite, gagaga […]}} }} Which is interpreted as "I, the earl of Āsugīsal, am called Muha," followed by some sort of battle cry or chant ("gagaga"). Āsugīsalaz contains ''ansu-'', "god", and ''gīsalaz'', "pledge". ''Muha'' may either be a personal name, or a word meaning "retainer" or similar. The runes of ''gagaga'' are displayed as a row of three bindrunes based on the X-shape of the ''g'' rune with side-twigs attached to its extremities for the ''a''. A similar sequence ''gægogæ'' is found on the Undley bracteate.

===Other items=== 200px|thumb|'''rila&#865;z''' (read from right to left). *Strängnäs stone: '''…rila͡z''' *Bracteates Eskatorp-F and Väsby-F have '''e[k]erilaz''' = "I [am] a Herulian" *Bratsberg clasp: '''ekerilaz''' *Veblungsnes:'''ekirilazwiwila''' *Rosseland (N KJ69 U): '''ekwagigazirilaz''' *Järsberg Runestone (Vr 1): '''ekerilaz''' *By (N KJ71 U): '''ekirilaz''' *The Etelheim clasp has '''mkmrlawrta''' read as '''ek erla wrta''' "I, '''Erla''', wrote this"; Runic '''e''' and '''m''' are similar to each other. * Trollhättan bracteate (found in 2009): '''ekerilaʀ • mariþeubaʀhaite • wraitalaþo'''<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Axboe |first1=Martin |last2=Källström |first2=Magnus |title=Guldbrakteater fra Trollhättan – 1844 og 2009 |journal=Fornvännen |date=2013 |pages=153-171 |url=https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1227077/FULLTEXT01.pdf |access-date=5 October 2025}}</ref>

==Notes== {{reflist|2}}

==References== * Orel, Vladimir (2003). ''A Handbook of Germanic Etymology''. Leiden: Brill. pg. 205. {{ISBN|90-04-12875-1}}. * Plowright, S. (2006). ''The Rune Primer'', Lulu Press. {{ISBN|1-84728-246-6}}; [https://web.archive.org/web/20111001173102/http://www.runewebvitki.com/The%20Rune%20Primer.html book review]

==External links== *[http://www.runenprojekt.uni-kiel.de/abfragen/standard/wortmaterial3.asp?wklasse=NAM&wordno=409 Wortmaterial der Runeninschriften nach Wortklassen]

Category:Historical runic magic Category:Elder Futhark inscriptions Category:Proto-Norse language