Asatru glossary

T

Thor – Odin’ son Thor is the God of storms, thunder and springs. He was considered a fertility God because he stopped the winter ice, and in the old days he was the most popular Nordic deity. Unlike Odin who was revered by priests and berserkers, Thor was more of a “people’s deity”. Numerous myths describe Thor’s exploits, depicting him as a strong but benevolent God. His strength was so extensive that he could fight even the horrific snake of Midgard, the Jormundgand, as well as Old age, Hunger and Thirst. His hammer – Mjollnir – was an efficient weapon against giants; today it is the most recognizable symbol of the Nordic religion (another fact testifying to Thor’s popularity). In the end of time, Thor will face his eternal enemy, Jormundgand; neither one will come out of this battle alive.

Thor

Thrym – the giant who came to possess Thor’s hammer. He promised to return Mjolllnir to the Gods if they give him Freya for his bride.

Tjazi – Skadi’s father; he stole Idun’s apples of youth.

Tridi – third member of the trinity of Har-Jafnhar-Tridi; one of Odin’s manifestations. By that name Odin described himself while describing the essence of the supreme deity to Gylfi. Tridi means “third”.

Troll – a mythical being. It’s depicted as a giant of great strength, but not very bright; he’s always outwitted by a hero or a simple peasant. It was believed that their residence was in Trollebotn, a dark and cold region connecting Greenland to the Scandinavian peninsula. The verb fortrollen (enchant) is derived from this being’s name.

Trudheim – Field of strength, Thor’s dwelling in Asgard.

Týr – Nordic God of war, equal to the Roman God Mars. Although he’s believed to be Odin’s son, there’s a possibility that Tyr is from a much older pantheon. The archaeological proof for this comes from the prehistoric era; images of a one-armed God have been discovered in Scandinavia. Tyr lost his right arm by helping the Gods fool the wolf Fenriz, who was a great danger for the whole Universe. Because of this, Tyr is regarded as the bravest and most daring of all the Gods; he’s also revered for his devotedness. Like Odin, Tyr decides the victory in a battle. In his honour war dances were performed and his Rune (Teiwaz) was engrave on handles (or blades) of swords. During the Twilight of the Gods, Tyr will also find his demise in the fight with the giant hound Garm.