Sleipnir
What is Sleipnir known for in Norse mythology?
How did Loki give birth to Sleipnir?
What was the wager between Odin and the giant Hrungnir about?
How does Sleipnir feature in the story of Balder’s death?
Sleipnir, in Norse mythology, the chief god Odin’s magical horse. The stallion is often depicted with a gray coat, eight legs, and the ability to travel through the air. The name Sleipnir roughly means someone who slides through, is smooth, or is slippery. Icelandic author Snorri Sturluson’s handbook on poetry, the Prose Edda, claims that Sleipnir is unparalleled among all the horses in its realm, while the collection of Old Norse poems, the Poetic Edda, declares him “the best of steeds.”
Origin story
The poem “Hyndluljoth” (“The Song of Hyndla”) from the Poetic Edda says:
Loki sired the wolf on Angrboda,
and got Sleipnir on Svadilfari;
However, it does not chronicle Sleipnir’s origin story, which is recounted in the Prose Edda by a chieftain called Hár to the legendary king Gylfi—who also went by the name Gangleri—during the ruler’s visit to the realm of the gods, Asgard.
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As the tale goes, a builder, who was later revealed to be a giant, approached the gods and offered to build them a strong fort in three seasons, asking in exchange for the Sun, the Moon, and the goddess Freya. The gods, however, changed the terms, greatly reducing the time limit to one winter on the condition that no human would help him. The builder agreed, asking only that his horse Svadilfari be allowed to assist him. Loki, the son of a giant and counted among the gods, convinced the council of gods to agree. As the days progressed, Svadilfari proved to be a great asset, and the gods realized the two together would complete the task with ease. Fearing that they would have to give up the Sun, the Moon, and Freya, the gods forced Loki to think of a solution. A cunning trickster with the ability to change his shape and sex, Loki changed into a mare and tempted Svadilfari away from the work, which remained unfinished at the end of the deadline. Loki, as the mare, bore Svadilfari’s offspring, Sleipnir, who came to belong to Odin.
Role of Sleipnir
Sleipnir features in a few different tales of Norse mythology. Legend has it that every day Odin arrived at the gathering of the gods to hold court at the holy fountain of Urd riding Sleipnir. Some say that although he could transform into a bird himself, Odin preferred galloping or flying around the world on his trusted steed. Once, when the giant Hrungnir admired Sleipnir, Odin wagered his head, claiming that no horse in the land of the giants, Jötunheim, could match Sleipnir. Hrungnir countered that his horse, Gullfaxi, could take longer strides and outrun Sleipnir. Enraged by Odin’s assertion, Hrungnir galloped after Odin, who remained ahead.
Sleipnir is also mentioned in two accounts related to Odin’s favorite son, the much beloved Balder. Both involve a visit to Hel, the world of the dead. When Balder dreamed of his impending death, Odin rode Sleipnir down a dark path to the underworld, where he learned that the halls of Hel were preparing a grand welcome for Balder. Balder is eventually killed by the blind god Höd, who was deceived by Loki. Sleipnir is then required to make another trip to Hel, but this time with another son of Odin, Hermod, who was sent to the land of the dead to entreat the goddess there to return Balder.