Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-02
The Day of Tuisco.

THE third day of the week was de-
4 voted to the worship Of Tuisco. the
Saxon god OF war. and was known as
Tuisco's- Daeg, OF Tuesday The Anglo
Saxon origin of the English language IS
perhaps in no case emphasized more
forcibly and constantly than IN the
names of the days, for beginning with
Tuesday each succeeding day OF the
week Is named for one or other OF the
more potent Saxon deitie8.
Tuisco was an exact counterpart Of
Mars among the Romans. yet he is ira
ditionally very unlike Mars This diff
ference is accounted for by the fact that
the Saxons lived In q very different at
moSphere 10 the Romans and C0nSe-
quently had very different ideas
Although there are few surviving ira
ditions centering around Tuisco, his
memory has been preserved III other
ways, and as The name Tuesday shows
he was one of the chief my biological
deities. The name Of this cod has taken
different forms IN he various countries
where he was worshiped. such as Zlu,
Tyr. etc, the latter being especially
commemurated in Tuhlngcu a city in
Germany, which Is u more or less nodl-
fed form Of the name The ancient
Bavarians called their capital. the mod
( "A
Tuisco who was known to them Us Aiu,
Although Tuiscu was VorShiped III
many countries OF northern Europe no
where was he hCuored as by the Saxons.
He was the patron god OF the sword.
and before going "a battle II was deemed
indispensable to Cngrave his sign or
rune on the blade Of every sword This
was thought to bring good fortune 10
the wearer, These people generating
the god as they did. worshiped him un-
der the emblem Of the sword, his dis
tinctive attribute, and on the third day
Of the week held sword dances m mem
ory OF the naming Of the day This oc-
caSion. according to tradition, was Il
most spectacular one, where various IFS
ures were carried out. Sometimes the
participants formed two long lines.
crossing their swords points upward
and challenged the hotdcSt among their
number TO take a flying leap over them.
AT other times they arranged their
swords In a circle, carrying their chief
In the center as they marched trlum-
phantly through the streets
Tusco was usually represented in old
Saxon drawings as having no right
hand. due to a misfortune which, aC-
cording to an old myth, hetell him In
the following way. a wolf was brought
To ASgaFd, the nome Oh the goes, WHICH
grew SO strong and fierce that no enc
could control Il, Seeing that no prdt~
nary chain would bind The animal the
gods sent one OF their servants 10 ttle
home Of the dwarts. a race Of small PEG
pie who lived underground, ana Whe
were very clever workers in metals ana
who also possessed great power ~
magic. AT the bidding OF the gods Inc
dWarfS made a sllkcn rope out Nt tlc
voice of fishes, a Womnn's beard the
roots Of mountain and the footsteps OF
cat, which was SO strong mat no
power could break It.
Thus equipped, The gods challensec
the wolf 10 show his strength, but tht
animal VAS suspicious and consented
only on condition that one of the godS
nut his arm in The VOLTS mouth. This
the bold war god did without hesitation
and the wolf was firnly bound with the
magic cord made by the dWarts.