Sleipnir
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In Norse mythology, Sleipnir is Odin's magical eight-legged steed, and the greatest of all horses. His name means smooth or gliding, and is related to the English word "slippery". One popular image of Sleipnir is from the Tjängvide image stone, but there is also a similar illustration on one of the Ardre image stones, which are a collection of ten rune and image stones, dated to the eighth through eleventh centuries.
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[edit] The birth of Sleipnir
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Thor, the Giant-Slayer, was away from Asgard slaying giants in the north, when a hrimthurs disguised as a human stonemason appeared, offering to rebuild the wall all around Asgard in exchange for the sun, the moon, and fair Freyja. 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 agreed upon six month time frame. 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 was well on his way to receiving the sun, the moon, and Freyja. The gods, seeing this, became furious at Loki, and said if they lost the sun, the moon, and Freyja, they would torture Loki eternally (which happened later anyway). Then, as Svadilfari was dragging the final brick to complete the wall back to Asgard, 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, Mjollnir.
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.
[edit] 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 has runes carved on his teeth.
[edit] Multiple legs and toes
The illustration of Sleipnir to the left includes extra toes on the horse as well as the legs separating at what would be the ankle of a horse rather than having eight legs.
Having more toes on a horse is something that occurs naturally, and the tales of Sleipnir might be references to a real horse with three toes on its legs, a genetic manifestation called polydactyly. This condition occasionally happens when two normally-vestigial toes appear on the legs of a horse, usually without harm or interference to the mobility of the animal. The concept of multiples might have shifted from toes to legs in oral traditions.
Although rare, it has been seen, both in ancient and contemporary times. Julius Caesar raised and rode just such a horse in a number of battles after it was declared an omen of good luck.[1]
[edit] Later traditions
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, designed by artist Stephen Field, is a prominent feature in the United Kingdom Midlands town of Wednesbury (which means Woden [i.e. Odin]'s hill).
[edit] Familiar forms
The name of Sleipnir is sometimes anglicized as "Sleipner", especially in old popular works. This form of the name is also the one most commonly used in Scandinavia.
[edit] References
- ^ Gould, Stephen Jay. Hen's Teeth and Horse's Toes. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-31103-1.
