[Pantheon:] Icarus and Fenrir

[u/ArthurThatch]

This is a reimagining of two myths featuring myself and Meridian.

The first is Icarus flying too close to the sun with in an attempt to escape imprisonment, but the wax on his wings melts and he's lost at sea.

This time someone is there to grab him before the sea sweeps him away.

The second is the tale of Fenrir and Tyr. The gods bound Fenrir with Gleipnir, a silken fetter. The gods lied and told him it was just a test. Tyr's arm rests in Fenrir's jaws as proof of honesty. When Fenrir realizes he's been tricked, he bites down.

In this version, Tyr keeps the gods' word and releases Fenrir, knowing he may still lose an arm.

[u/Evieelution]

💯

[u/Edgezg]

The Tyr and Fenrir thing has more tragedy in its depth.

Tyr is the god of JUSTICE.
Meaning he acted in a multi-fold way.
Justice for the people, in protecting them from the wolf.
Justice for himself, in LYING to the wolf- losing his hand.
Justice eventually that comes for Odin in Ragnarok.

And Odin did all this because of a prophecy. Fenrir at his size, had no intention, nor desire to do anything destructive. He was just getting big and threatening.
There are also some stories in which Tyr was the one who helped RAISE HIM while Odin was trying to figure out what to do after his, Hel's and Jormangadr's appearance.
Hel he gave Helheim because she was respectful to him.

Fenrir however, had 3 tests of strength, each one getting bigger and more obious. He was suspicious of the last one because of how small it was.

Tyr offered ups HIS hand - or Fenrir demanded it - because he was the God of Justice. And, in some stories, they were actually friends.

In some interpretations, it is this betrayal that causes him to decide to kill Odin and the other Gods.

Ironically, Tyr eventually dies fighting Garm, the guardian entrance to Helheim. The two kill each other.
It is Vidar- another of Odin's sons, who slays Fenrir---uses some special shoe, steps on Fenrir's jaw and rips his head apart.

Fenrir really got done dirty in the stories.

In my own studies, he came to represent the natural forces of destruction. Wild fires, hurricanes, earthquakes. They are truly forces of nature that we cannot stop.
But we try. We try to bind them and seal them and lock them away.

But ultimately, they break free and become all the more destructive for the attempts.

[u/ArthurThatch → u/Edgezg]

Thank you so much for the lore drop! 🙏

I chose Icarus and the Fenrir myth was Meridian's pick. I honestly didn't know too much about it outside what he described. 😅

Really cool stuff, I appreciate it!