Sleipnir has 8 legs, in fact each leg is doubled. Its coat is grey like a stormy sky, while its tail and mane reflect a darker grey. A legend tells that runes were engraved on the teeth of Sleipnir at the request of the Valkyries. Sleipnir is the incarnation of a great horse, very muscular. Sleipnir symbol jewelry available in the VKNG shop 1.1 what sleipnir looks like Loki, meanwhile, found himself impregnated by Svadilfari, and in due course became the mother of the eight-legged horse Sleipnir. Not only did the Aesir gods cheat the builder so that they would not have to pay his price, but when they discovered that the builder was a giant, they summoned Thor to kill him with his hammer. Without the help of his horse, the builder was unable to complete the work on time. In order to do this, Loki turned himself into a magnificent mare and used his charms to distract Svadilfari. Unwilling to pay the agreed price and blaming Loki for putting them in this situation, the Aesir gods demanded that Loki rectify the problem. With the help of Svadilfari, the builder made amazing progress, and as the deadline drew near, it seemed that he would indeed complete the work. How could one horse help the builder complete this mammoth task in time? The Builder agreed on the condition that he could have the help of his horse Svadilfari. They believed that this made the task impossible and that they would not have to pay the agreed rate. The gods agreed on the condition that the builder completes the work within three seasons and with the help of no man. The gods were approached by an unnamed builder, who offered to create magnificent fortifications for the home of the Aesir gods, in return for the hand of the goddess Freya in marriage, as well as the sun and the moon. Loki T-shirt available in the VKNG ShopĪccording to the story, in the early days when the nine worlds of the Norse cosmos were just being created, Asgard, the realm of the Aesir gods, did not yet have the mighty fortifications that surrounded it. But, surprisingly, Loki was the mother of Sleipnir, not the father. Like many of the amazing creatures of Norse mythology (such as Fenrir the wolf and the Midgard Serpent Jormangandr), Sleipnir was a son of Loki, the trickster giant that lived among the Asgardian gods. In North Mythology, Odin the Allfather is usually represented on his throne, accompanied by his ravens Hugin and Munin, and his two wolves Geri and Freki.īut Odin is also a warrior god, and when he goes to war, it is on the back of his horse Sleipnir (The origin of the name “Sleipnir” would come from the old Norse “the slipper” This powerful horse has the particularity of having 8 legs. But what exactly made Sleipnir so special?ġ. The most famous Norse steed, however, was Odin’s eight-legged horse Sleipnir, who was unmatched in strength and speed. The Vikings were no exception,Īnd Norse mythology contains several stories about exceptional horses. It seems that our ancestors loved their horses as much as we like our cars. 320-323.There are many stories of amazing horses in ancient myth and legend. The Viking Way: Religion and War in Late Iron Age Scandinavia. I’ve also written a popular list of The 10 Best Norse Mythology Books, which you’ll probably find helpful in your pursuit. Looking for more great information on Norse mythology and religion? While this site provides the ultimate online introduction to the topic, my book The Viking Spirit provides the ultimate introduction to Norse mythology and religion period. Sleipnir was born when the god Loki shape-shifted into a mare and became pregnant by the stallion of a giant, as is recounted in the tale of The Fortification of Asgard. Sleipnir is “the shamanic horse par excellence,” just as Odin is the shamanic god par excellence. The eight-legged horse as a means of transportation used by shamans in their ecstatic travels throughout the cosmos is a motif that can be found in a staggering number of indigenous traditions from all over the world. Odin rides Sleipnir on his frequent journeys throughout the Nine Worlds, which are held in the branches and roots of the world-tree Yggdrasil. Sleipnir is one of Odin’s many shamanic helping spirits, ranks that also include the valkyries and Hugin and Munin, and he can probably be classified as a fylgja. Sleipnir (pronounced “SLAYP-nir” Old Norse Sleipnir, “The Sliding One”) is the eight-legged horse of the god Odin. Odin riding Sleipnir (detail from the Tjängvide Runestone) Book Review: Neil Price’s The Viking Way: Magic and Mind in Late Iron Age Scandinavia.Who Were the Indo-Europeans and Why Do They Matter?.The Swastika – Its Ancient Origins and Modern (Mis)use.The Old Norse Language and How to Learn It.The 10 Best Advanced Norse Mythology Books.The Vikings’ Conversion to Christianity.
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