Týr

Template:Infobox gods

File:80px-Runic letter tiwaz.svg.png

Tiwaz/Týr rune

Týr is the Norse God of War, Law, and Honor.

In Norse Mythology

Týr or Tiwaz (Known in Old Norse: Týr, and in Old English: Tiw/Tiu) was the god of war and justice. He was also known for as guarantor of contracts, and guardian of oaths.

Biography

Before God of War (2018)

Tyr was the son of Odin and an unknown woman and was the half-brother of Thor and Baldur. He was the god of honor and law. Tyr was a frequent traveler of the world, eager to learn about other cultures and gain new perspectives, believing it to be the only way of achieving true peace. Because of his kind demeanor, Tyr was often given relics during his travels, keeping them safely tucked away in his own personal vault.

A natural pacifist, Tyr sought to broker peace between the Æsir and their long standing enemies, the Jötnar during the Æsir-Vanir conflict. Though the Giants were frightened by Thor's hammer Mjölnir, they held enough trust in Tyr to allow Odin entry into Jötunheim for negotiations. Unbeknownst to Tyr however, Odin secretly intended to not honor any deal made, and instead use the opportunity to spy and steal the Giant's secret wisdom.

Anticipating Odin's treachery, the Giants expelled him from Jötunheim, cursing him never to return. In anger, Odin turned his wrath on the Giants of Midgard, allowing Thor to massacre them at will. Feeling guilty for his role in the Giant's suffering, Tyr aided the Giants in hiding their gate in the space between realms, preventing Odin from ever having a direct way back to Jötunheim. However, through the use of the Unity Stone, Tyr was still able to access Jötunheim via the hidden gate.

Eventually, Odin grew to regard Tyr as a threat to his power, correctly suspecting him of plotting with the Giants. As a result, Odin killed Tyr, though the exact circumstances surrounding his death are not known.

Personality

Despite being the Norse God of War, Tyr used his powers and abilities to make peace between the races, instead of starting wars. He used his powers not for selfish reasons like his fellow Æsir but for a higher purpose and with wisdom. Tyr also liked to interact with other races and cultures, to learn and share knowledge with them unlike his father who hoarded knowledge.

All the realms adored Tyr for his peaceful and understanding nature as they worked together in creating the Gateway's in each realm and the original Temple of Tyr, all thanks to Tyr's leadership. Even the Giants, enemies of the Æsir, trusted Tyr with some of their deepest secrets and knowledge on how to reach their world. Mimir and other figures besides the Æsir continue to speak highly of Tyr.

However, Mimir stated that Tyr tried to see the best in people; thus, often leaving him susceptible to the deceitful nature of others, including his own father. He hoped to bring his father and the Giants together and forge an everlasting peace but Odin only came so he could enter the Jötunheim and learn their secrets. Fortunately, the giants expelled Odin from their realm and closed it off from all known entry points. From that point on, Tyr worked tirelessly to ensure that Odin could never enter the Realm of Giants. The Giants themselves were desperate enough to entrust Tyr, an outsider, with the secret paths to their Realm, likely because of how close he was to them.

Tyr proved to be a very cunning and clever individual, evident in the complex traps and mechanisms found in his temple. Even Mimr, who is credited as the smartest man alive, was in awe of how clever Tyr was in making sure the Æsir could not reach the giant's realm and of the knowledge he gained.

Powers and Abilities

• Superhuman Strength: It can be assumed that he was one of the most powerful Æsir, since he is the god of war and one of Odin's sons. So, his powers are presumably of the same level as Baldur, but he is likely weaker than Thor.
• Gifted Diplomat: His gift in diplomacy earns him immense respect and even adoration from various races of different realms and even foreign pantheons. Even the Æsir-hating giants trust him enough of their deepest secrets, and possibly the only Æsir they held in high regard. His leadership qualities allow various races to construct the Temple of Tyr that allows direct travel to each realms.

Trivia

• Tyr is the Norse God of War, similar to both Kratos and Ares.
  • Like Ares, he was killed by his own family, Odin.
  • Unlike Ares however, he was never after his Father's throne, but instead sought to find peace among the nine realms.
• Tyr's secret room has many murals that depicts him traveling to different realms outside his own and apparently encountering other pantheons; Mesoamerican, Greek, Celtic, Japanese, and Egyptian. The room even had chambers filled with gold and items from these different pantheons, as well as a vase depicting Kratos on a bloody rampage.
• Kratos can wear Tyr's armour, similar to how he wore Ares's Armour in the original God of War.
• 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.
• His older Proto-Germanic name Tīwaz, is similar to the proto-European word with the Greek god Zeus.
• Tacitus, a Roman historian, associated Tyr with Ares's Roman equivalent Mars. However, linguists believe that Tyr's actual name, Tiwaz, is etymologically related to the names Zeus/Jupiter. Hence according to linguists, Zeus/Jupiter would be the Greco-Roman equivalent of Tyr.
• Tyr has both of his hands in all depictions of him in the game, due to his dying before the unborn Fenrir could bite one off.
• Tyr was given golden eyes, like Mimir, however it is unknown what happened to them after his death.