U+16CE "ᛎ" Runic Letter Z Unicode Character

U+16CE "ᛎ" Runic Letter Z is a character from the Elder Futhark runic alphabet, where it represents the sound "z" in reconstructed Proto-Germanic. It is distinct from the rune often used for "z" in later Norse contexts, as this specific glyph, sometimes called the "Algiz" or "Eihwaz" variant in older transcriptions, actually corresponds to a different phoneme and historical usage. In runic inscriptions, this letter appears primarily in early Germanic artifacts and is associated with concepts of defense or protection due to its symbolic link to the elk or yew tree, though its exact meaning varied by cultural context.