Who is the Norse god of justice and the thing?

Forseti is the Norse god of justice and reconciliation, closely associated with settling disputes.

In the Prose Edda, Forseti is described as the son of Baldr and Nanna. His home is Glitnir, a shining hall with golden pillars and a silver roof. It serves as a court where disagreements are resolved, and those who appear before him leave reconciled.

Forseti’s name means “the presiding one,” linking him with judgment and leadership. He is sometimes compared with Týr, another figure connected with law and justice, but they have different mythic roles: Týr is famous for courage and the binding of Fenrir, while Forseti is specifically portrayed as a mediator.

The surviving evidence for Forseti is limited. Most information comes from medieval Icelandic texts, especially Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda, and scholars connect him with the Frisian deity Fosite. The word “thing” refers to a traditional Germanic public assembly or court, but Forseti should not be confused with the god Týr simply because both are linked to justice.