UPRIGHT
REVERSED
~ TYR (tiw) ~ t ~
Tyr begins and names the third aett of the German futhark. One of the
major Teutonic gods of prehistoric times, by the period when Roman
historians began to record German customs, he had degenerated into
a minor war deity and was ignobly compared to Mars. However, from
what can be gathered of his nature, he deserved better. His great courage
was restrained by his intelligence and sense of honor. The blind killing
rage characteristic of Mars was not part of Tiw's original makeup. He
was the god of legal and moral judgment, the upholder of oaths. He could
be more closely compared to Mercury than Mars, since both Tiw and
Mercury were instruments of a higher law.
Leaving his early nature aside, the latter day Tiw was a war
god. The
rune
is similar to the symbol for Mars
. It was cut into
weapons and carried into battle to give courage and war
skill. It occurs
on many rune charms. The similarity in shape of Tyr to all
piercing
weapons, particularly the spear, is significant. The favorite
weapon of
the Germans was a short light spear called a
framea,
which they had
the option of casting at a foe or retaining for close
combat.
In the
Old English Rune Poem, the meaning of Tyr has
developed
into a constellation or star or planet in the night sky. Even
then it
retains its connotations of faithfulness and
dependability:
Tyr is one of the guiding signs, it keeps faith well with
princes;
always it holds its course above the night clouds; it
never fails.
This late definition may refer to the planet mars or to a
constellation
of stars. Perhaps it is the North Star, which is symbolized
on maps and
charts with the sign:
. The North Star is certainly a guide,
always
holds its course, and never fails.
MEANINGS:
UPRIGHT:
Honor, integrity, valor, discernment, judgment, legal matters, court
action, eloquent and persuasive speech, fair dealing in a dispute,
equitable arrangement, the truth told, witnesses come forth.
REVERSED:
War, battle, argument, disputes, strife, conflict, clash of wills, clash
of ideas, disagreements, unwillingness to compromise, refusal of
arbitration, excessive pride, arrogance, intolerance, need to dominate
others.
KEY: JUDGMENT
