Tyr: bravery and courage
By Nathan Anderson
Tyr the god of war represents courage and bravery. We know this through his willing sacrifice of his hand to trap fenrir but also through the fact that his father is known to be stubborn or hard headed. Now most of the Great gods are gods of war but it Tyr that specifically had that title along with justice and loyalty. Now I am aware that this story has very little Tyr in it but that’s the way the story goes I’m afraid
Tyr and Thor venture out and are greeted at a home which the residents have enough food but not a pot big enough to cook it in. Tyr reassures them that his father lives close and has a pot that would be big enough. Both Thor and Tyr seek out the Giant Hymir.
Hymir boasts that he’s a great fisher and Thor accepts the challenge to prove him wrong. After sailing out it wasn’t long before each of them were catching whale after whale. Until Thor casts a line into deep waters. Hymir looks nervous as he knows that the giant snake Jorgunmandr lives there. After getting the snake on the line and wrestling for an hour, Thor looks to have defeated the world serpent but just before bringing him onboard Hymir cuts the line freeing the snake. Proving Thor the better fisherman.
Upon returning defeated Hymir challenges Thor to break his cup, if he does he can have the pot. Thor throws the cup as hard as he can at the wall but the cup doesn’t breaks. Tyr apologised saying, “sorry he’s hard headed.” Thor grabs the cup and throws it against the giants head and the cup shatters. Hymir angry says, “take the pot and go!” So in my opinion Hymir represents arrogance and stubbornness.
Now this story has a couple of different endings one where they leave with the pot and all is good another when Hymir sends a team of giants to kill and retrieve the pot but the giants are killed by Thor and Tyr. If Hymir is stubborn then the second version is more likely as a symbolic act of a sore loser
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