The Anglosaxon runic alphabet, which in several letters recalls the names or attributes of the ancient gods, uses Tír for T: the German runes wanting a Z = T, apply Ziu: there is however another rune, similar in shape to the runic T, but having the power of EA; this bears the name of Ear, but sometimes also in MSS. that of Tír: there are etymological grounds on which the word Tír, gloria, must be connected with Tíw, and we are hence led to the supposition that Ear may have been another name for that god. This gains a great importance when we bear in mind that in some parts of south Germany, the third day of the week is called, not Zistag, but Ertag, Eritag, Erichtag, for which we should indeed have expected Erestag: and when we find in Saxon Westphalia an undeniably heathen spot called Eresburg, Mons Martis, now Mersberg, i. e. Eresberg, the hill of Er, Ziu or Mars.
Now the Anglosaxon poem on the runic characters has something to tell us of Ear. It says of him,
Ear bið égle
eorla gehwylcum,
ðonne fæstlíce
flǽsc onginneð
hrá cólian,
hrúsan ceósan
blác to gebeddan.
Blǽda gedréosað,