Norse Mythology · deity

Týr

also: Tiw (Old English)

deitywarjusticelawthe sky (in some accounts)

God of war, justice, and law; he sacrificed his hand to bind the wolf Fenrir.

Tyr and Fenrir · John Bauer · undated · Wikimedia Commons (institution in source file) · Public domain

The account

Who they are

Týr is the god of war, justice, and law, and (in some accounts) of the sky. His defining act is the binding of the wolf Fenrir: the gods tricked Fenrir into letting them bind him, but only Týr was brave enough to place his hand in the wolf's mouth as a pledge of good faith; when the binding held, Fenrir bit off his hand [S2]. Týr is thus the god of the sacrifice of justice — he gave his hand to keep a promise, and he is the patron of oaths and of the law [S2]. His name gives 'Tuesday' (Tiw's day) [S3].

Worth knowing

Sacrificed his hand to bind the wolf Fenrir [S2].
God of war, justice, and law [S2].
His name gives 'Tuesday' [S3].

Uncertainties & variants

Týr's 'sky' association is later; the earliest Týr is a god of war and law [S2][S3].

Relationships (1)

Connections

Conflict & enmity

FOUGHTFenrir — Týr placed his hand in Fenrir's mouth to bind him; the wolf bit off his hand.[S2]

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Their corner of the divine world

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Myths featuring Týr

1 story

The Binding of Fenrir

The gods, fearing the growing wolf Fenrir, tried to bind him. The first two bindings he broke, but the third — a magic ribbon made of six impossible things (Gleipnir) — held. Only Týr placed his hand in the wolf's mouth as a pledge; when the binding held, Fenrir bit off his hand [S2].

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