Tyr- Norse GodDeity"God of War"

God of War

Snorri calls Týr djarfastr ok bezt hugaðr, the most daring and stout-hearted of the gods. The Sigrdrífumál instructs warriors to carve his rune, the Tiwaz (ᛏ), on a sword's hilt and invoke his name twice for victory. He governs oaths between warriors.

The Binding of Fenrir

Fenrir, the wolf born of Loki and Angrboða, grew so large the gods feared what he would become. Prophecy said he would kill Odin at Ragnarök. They resolved to bind him.

Twice they tried with chains of their own making. First Læðingr: Fenrir snapped it. Then Drómi, twice as strong: Fenrir broke that too. The gods sent to the dwarves of Svartálfheim for something better. The dwarves made Gleipnir, a fetter thin as a silk ribbon, woven from six impossible things: the sound of a cat's footsteps and the roots of a mountain among them. These things no longer exist, Snorri says, because they were used up in its making.

Fenrir suspected treachery. He would allow himself to be bound only if a god placed a hand in his mouth as a pledge of good faith. If he could not break free and they did not release him, he would take the hand. The Æsir looked at one another. All knew they intended to leave Fenrir bound forever. Whoever gave the pledge would be foresworn. None was willing. None except Týr.

He placed his right hand, his sword hand, into the wolf's jaws. The gods bound Fenrir with Gleipnir. The wolf strained. The ribbon held. The more he struggled, the tighter it gripped. The gods laughed. All except Týr, who knew what came next. Fenrir bit down and severed his hand at the wrist.

The Journey to Hymir

Týr's parentage is disputed. Snorri names him a son of Odin, but the Hymiskviða calls his father Hymir, a giant. The same poem gives Týr his other major myth, though here he supports Thor.

The gods needed a cauldron large enough to brew ale for Ægir's feast. Týr knew that Hymir possessed one, a mile-deep vessel, and suggested they take it. He accompanied Thor to his father's hall. Týr's mother hid the gods from Hymir's initial rage and advised them on how to handle the giant. After Thor claimed the cauldron and they fled, pursuing giants fell to Mjölnir.

Loki's Taunt

At Ægir's feast in the Lokasenna, Loki turns his tongue on each god in turn. When he reaches Týr, the insult is direct: he mocks the missing hand, the one Fenrir ripped away. Týr's response is measured. He acknowledges his loss but answers that Fenrir is bound and will stay bound until Ragnarök. Of all the gods Loki insults that night, Týr is the only one who does not bluster or threaten. He states the facts.

Ragnarök and Garmr

At Ragnarök, Týr will face Garmr, the blood-soaked hound chained before the cave Gnipahellir. The Völuspá says Garmr will break free when the end comes. They will kill each other on the field of Vígríðr.