Tyr facts for kids

Tyr

Tyr is a brave god from Norse mythology. He is known as the god of single combat, which means one-on-one fights. In ancient stories called the Eddas, some say he is the son of Odin, while others say his father is Hymir. You'll notice that Tyr only has one hand, and there's a famous story about how he lost it.

The Story of Tyr's Missing Hand

Tyr and Fenrir

Long ago, the gods faced a big problem: the giant wolf Fenrir. Fenrir was growing bigger and stronger, and the gods worried he would become too powerful. They decided they needed to chain him up to keep the world safe.

They tried to bind Fenrir with strong chains, but he easily broke every one. Finally, the gods asked the clever dwarves to create a special, magical chain. This chain, called Gleipnir, looked thin and light, but it was incredibly strong.

Fenrir, being very smart, sensed that the gods were trying to trick him. He agreed to let them put the magical chain on him, but only if one of the gods would put their hand into his mouth as a sign of good faith.

The gods knew this was a dangerous request. They understood that if Fenrir was left free, he could grow strong enough to harm them and even destroy the world. But who would be brave enough to risk their hand?

Only Tyr had the incredible courage to step forward. He bravely placed his right hand into Fenrir's mouth. When Fenrir realized he had been tricked and couldn't break the magical chain, he bit down hard. Tyr's hand was bitten off, and he remained handless forever after that day.

Tyr's Role in Ragnarök

Fenrir will stay chained until a great event called Ragnarök. This is a time when the world is said to end and be reborn. During Ragnarök, Tyr will face a fierce opponent. His enemy will be Garm, a powerful guard dog who protects the realm of Hel.

Images for kids

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  "Týr" by Lorenz Frølich, 1895

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  Týr equated with Mars in an 18th-century manuscript (ÍB 299 4to)

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  An illustration of an image on a bracteate found in Trollhättan, Västergötland, Sweden. Drawing by Gunnar Creutz.

See also

In Spanish: Tyr para niños