Tīw

Meaning of Name: Tīw’s name stems from Proto-Germanic *Tīwaz, which means ‘a god’ or ‘celestial being’.

Pronunciation: The ‘ī’ is pronounced as the double ‘ee’ in ‘street’. ‘Tee-w’

Function: God of heroic glory, war, battle, the Thing/legal assembly, defense of the tribe, and law. There is a distinction to be made for Tīw as representative of inspired, glorious warfare, opposed to Woden’s existential warfare. As a God of the Thing, Tīw is seen as a deity of civilization and the tribal innangeard, and a stalwart protector of tribal cohesion, and represents the warriors which would act in defense of the tribe. This is supported by the later Norse iconography with Tyr’s dealings with Fenris, who represents the utangeard and the dangerous Other against which Tyr steels Himself and His folk.

Tīw is a bridge between the overruling tribal sovereign and sky father-like figure, as well as a figure representative of more “grounded” and communal authority. He is a strong figure for those who work in law enforcement in particular, local and national government or criminal justice and penal reform.

Iconography: A figure flanked by wolves on the Sutton Hoo purse lid is believed by some scholars to be a depiction of Tīw. The ‘Tīr’ rune (ᛏ) is typically associated with Tīw, and has been found on weapons and ceremonial urns alike. Weapons, shields, the formal accoutrements of war, and images of warriors would be appropriate icons for Him. It was said that to secure His blessing in war, one should mark one’s weapons twice with His rune. He is also associated with the Tir (Tiw) rune  ᛏ in the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc.

Tīw lends his name to our modern ‘Tuesday’.

Contemporary Bīnaman: Dōmgeorn (Eager for Justice/ Virtuous), Sigebeorht (Triumphant), Folcriht (Lawful)

*Credit to Lārhūs Fyrnsida for the majority of this information and description. I have edited this down for simple reading and for personalisation of what He means to me.