Tyr (pronounced "TEER") is the Norse Æsir god of war, courage, laws, and duels. He is famous for sacrificing his right hand to keep the Fenris Wolf bound. He was known as Tīw to the Anglo-Saxons and Zīo or Cyo to continental Germanic tribes.
History[]
In order to bind Fenris, one of the gods had to swear that no harm would come to Fenrir and place their sword hand in his mouth as an act of faith. Tyr was the only god with the courage and selflessness to perform this act, placing the needs of the world before his own despite knowing the consequences of swearing a false oath. When Fenrir realized he could not break his shackles and that the gods had broken their vow, the wolf bit off Tyr's hand in retaliation.
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard[]
The Sword of Summer[]
He was mentioned by T.J.; he gave the former his Bone Steel bayonet.
The Ship of the Dead[]
Tyr appears alongside the other gods after Magnus Chase and his friends defeat Loki. He congratulates them as he shakes hands with T.J..
Appearance[]
Tyr is described as a big man with dark skin, a glistening bald scalp, and black leather armor. His right wrist is covered with a gold cap, as the hand was bitten off by Fenris in retaliation for the latter's binding.
Personality[]
Tyr is a benevolent god who is willing to lower his position to avoid conflict, such as stepping down as a major war god to give the role to Thor and Odin.
He is described as noble by Frey and in fact, he is said to be the bravest of the Aesir.
Abilities[]
- Odikinesis (possibly): As the God of War, Tyr may be able to manipulate the feelings of war.
- Telumkinesis (possibly): As the god of war, Tyr may have control over weapons.
- Prowess in Battle: As the God of War, he is an able and experienced warrior, as he is destined to smash Garm's head in and kill him before dying in Ragnarok.
- Courage: As the God of Courage, Tyr is extremely brave and noble, being the only Aesir brave enough to put his hand in Fenris' mouth while the latter was being bound.
- Justice (possibly): As the God of Law, he is presumably an expert on the subject.
- Binder of Oaths (possibly): As the God of Oaths and Laws, he may be able to punish those who break them or make false promises.
Family[]
Demigod Children[]
|
Partner |
Children |
| Miss/Mrs. Jefferson | Thomas Jefferson Jr. |
Trivia[]
- The English weekday Tuesday (from Old English Tiwesdæg, "Tyr's day") is named after him.
- Despite being a lesser-known god in modern pop culture, Tyr is believed by many scholars to have been the original chief god of the general Germanic pantheon instead of Odin; in addition to being a sovereign god of law, war, justice, and trial by combat, his older Proto-Germanic name *Tīwaz (after which the rune of sacrifice is named), shares the same Proto-Indo-European cognitive word with the Greek god Zeus: *Dyḗus.
- At Ragnarok, Tyr and Garm, the guard dog of Hel, are destined to kill each other.
- In Norse writings, "wolf-joint" is a kenning for the wrist; a reference to Tyr losing his hand when binding the Fenris Wolf.
- His Greco-Roman counterpart (in terms of attributes) is Ares/Mars, Athena/Minerva, Zeus/Jupiter, Orcus and Horkos.
- His Egyptian equivalent is Horus.
- The Roman historian Tacitus identified Tyr with the Roman god Mars. However, linguists believe that Tyr's actual name, Tiwaz, is etymologically related to the names Zeus and Jupiter. Hence according to linguists, Zeus/Jupiter would be the Greco-Roman equivalent of Tyr.