Also Teiwaz. Ancient god of war and justice. Tyr was the only god whom
Fenris trusted when the gods tried to bind the wolf. Tyr put his hand into the wolf's mouth so the gods could tie Fenris up with a magical fetter. When Fenris realized he was bound, he bit off Tyr's right hand in fury.
There is much debate about his left-handedness. In the Norse culture the
right hand was given for a pledge, which could be why the right hand was
placed in the wolf's mouth. It has also been noted, however, that the
offering of the right hand is to show that it is free of weapons. A left
handed person was sometimes considered evil because he could use a weapon
with his left hand even though he shook with his right hand, and therefore commit treachery (as Tyr was when he tricked Fenris).
Like that of Saga, Tyr's origin is obscure, and it is probable that he was an early Sky-Father god whose worship was
superceded by that of the Vanir and Aesir, thus making the story of his dismemberment symbolic of the passing on of power to a younger generation through violence. The rune
Teiwaz (or Tiw) is symbolic of the Sky-Father and the power of creation, and is associated with Tyr, not Odin, which gives evidence that Tyr was the ancient Allfather.
Tuesday is named
for Tyr who was known as Tiw, or Tiu, by the Anglo-Saxons. He is also
associated with the Frisian god of justice Forseti (Forsite).
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