TYR

Also known as TIWAL, TIW, TIWAZ, THINGS, ZIU

Ancient God of War and Odin's left-hand man

He started off as a fearless Germanic War God, and became ODIN's left-hand man when the Vikings came along.

Whilst FENRIR was being restrained with a chain, he put his hand in the creature's mouth as a gesture of goodwill. Not a good idea. Now he is very left-handed as that is the only hand he has left. (Tolkien fans will note the similarity to Beren The One-Handed here.)

Can you be a right-hand man if you don't have a right hand? About TYR's only legacy now is that Tuesday is named after him. What he did on Tuesday we're not quite sure. Perhaps it was his day off.

TYR is shrouded in a great deal of mystery, speculation and rumor. He might be older than ODIN or even ODIN's son, and may once have been a wooden pillar that supported the Universe.

TYR could also have Celtic connections, putting himself about as NUADA of the Silver Hand with claims to have lost his hand in battle. The Germans or Teutons, who lost no opportunity to invade Mythology, called him Ziu or Tiuz, which could of course cause confusion with ZEUS. They also called him Things, from which the German word for Tuesday (Dienstag) is derived.

He has even been associated with Mars, probably by the U.F.O. tribe. The only certified documentation that can be produced is via the Norse Legends, but how often do Gods get asked to produce a passport?

Anyway, TYR is waiting for his revenge on the wolf FENRIR during RAGNAROK (he won't get it). Then again, RAGNAROK may already have happened, in which case TYR will have killed GARM the Monster Hound belonging to HEL.