Sleipnir

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In Norse mythology, Sleipnir is Odin's magical eight-legged steed, and the greatest of all horses. Sometimes he is referred to have only 6 legs; 4 in the front and 2 in the back. His name means smooth or gliding, and is related to the English word "slippery".

1 The birth of Sleipnir
2 The Eddas
3 Origin and interpretation
4 Later ideas
5 Familiar forms

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The birth of Sleipnir

Thor, the Giant-Slayer, was away from Asgard slaying giants in the north, when a giant appeared, offering to rebuild the wall all around Asgard in exchange for the sun, the moon, and fair Freya. The gods agreed, thinking that it would be good, since part of the wall was crumbling, and also believing the giant would never be able to complete it in the allotted time. The giant asked one thing: the use of his gray stallion, Svadilfari (literally, "slave", or possibly "ill-fated"). Loki quickly agreed before any of the other gods could reply. The work began. Using the stallion, the giant began building the wall, and would have received the sun, the moon, and Freya. The gods, seeing this, became furious at Loki, and said if they lost the sun, the moon, and Freya, they would torture Loki eternally (which happened later anyway). Then on the last few days before the deadline, Loki transformed into a beautiful white mare, and led the stallion away, angering the giant. When the giant began tearing down the wall, Thor appeared and smashed the giant on the head with his hammer. Loki later gave birth to Sleipnir, the eight-legged steed of Odin, the offspring of the gray stallion Svadilfari and Loki when "he" was the beautiful white mare.

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The Eddas

According to the Prose Edda, Loki returned to Asgard and gave the eight-legged gray colt to Odin, telling him that the horse was the swiftest on earth, and could bear Odin over sea, through the air, and to and from the land of the dead. According to Sigrdrífumál in the Poetic Edda, Sleipnir had runes carved on his teeth.

Image:Treated NKS sleipnir.jpg

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Origin and interpretation

It has been suggested that Sleipnir having eight legs is symbolic of the four men who carry a coffin, i.e. a steed to carry the rider into the underworld. It might also be a reference to a real horse with three toes, a genetic manifestation that occasionally happens on the front or rear legs of a horse, usually without harm to the animal. Though rare, it has been seen, (Julius Caesar rode just such a horse in a number of battles) and this might have worked its way into the myth.

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Later ideas

Ásbyrgi (literally "Fort of the Æsir") in the northeast of Iceland is said to have been created when Sleipnir's hoof touched down.

A stainless steel statue of Sleipnir is a prominent feature in the United Kingdom Midlands town of Wednesbury (which means Odin's fort).

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Familiar forms

The name of Sleipnir is sometimes anglicized as "Sleipner", especially in old popular works.

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