Tiw

Tiw, also known as Tyr in Norse sources, is a deity in Germanic mythology associated with law, justice, and warfare. In Old English and Old Norse traditions he is one of the Aesir and the precursor to the god later known as Tyr in Norse myth. The name has given rise to the English weekday name Tiw’s Day, i.e., Tuesday.

The name is reconstructed as Proto-Germanic *Tīwaz*, with cognates such as Old English Tiw and Old Norse Týr. The exact meaning is debated, but the figure is closely linked to divine authority, oath-keeping, and maintaining social order. The runic letter ᛏ, called Tiwaz, is named after the god and is used in inscriptions and magical contexts in later tradition.

Mythically, Tyr is best known for his role in binding the great wolf Fenrir. To restrain Fenrir, the gods seek a courageous volunteer to place a hand in the wolf’s mouth; Tyr offers, and Fenrir is bound by Gleipnir. When Fenrir discovers he cannot break free, he bites off Tyr’s hand. The tale emphasizes Tyr’s association with law, justice, and sacrificial bravery, rather than with savage warfare.

In historical practice, concrete details of Tyr’s cult are limited, but he appears in early Germanic religion and imagery as a guarantor of lawful order and oaths. In later sources, Tyr remains a symbol of lawful right and sworn promises. Today, the legacy of Tiw/Tyr persists in linguistic references (the name of Tuesday) and in modern depictions of mythic lawgivers and heroic figures.