Sleipnir: Difference between revisions
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In [[Norse mythology]], '''Sleipnir''' ([[Old Norse]] "slippy"<ref name=ORCHARD151>Orchard (1997:151).</ref> or "is an eight-legged [[horse]]. Sleipnir is attested in the ''[[Poetic Edda]]'', compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the ''[[Prose Edda]]'', written in the 13th century by [[Snorri Sturluson]]. In both sources, Sleipnir is Odin's [[steed]], is the child of [[Loki]] and [[Svaðilfari]], is described as the best of all horses, and is sometimes ridden to the location of [[Hel (location)|Hel]]. The ''Prose Edda'' contains extended information regarding the circumstances of Sleipnir's birth, that he is gray in color, and other details. |
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{{for|other uses|Sleipner}} |
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[[Image:Ardre Odin Sleipnir.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Tjängvide image stone]] is thought to show Odin entering [[Valhalla]] riding on Sleipnir.]] |
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In [[Norse Mythology|Norse mythology]], '''Sleipnir''' is [[Odin]]'s eight-legged steed, and the greatest of all [[horse]]s. 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 century|eighth]] through [[eleventh century|eleventh centuries]]. |
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==Attestations== |
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==''Poetic Edda'' |
===''Poetic Edda''=== |
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[[Image:Odin and Sleipnir - John Bauer.jpg|thumb|"Odin and Sleipnir" (1911) by [[John Bauer]].]] |
[[Image:Odin and Sleipnir - John Bauer.jpg|thumb|"Odin and Sleipnir" (1911) by [[John Bauer]].]] |
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In the ''Poetic Edda'', Sleipnir appears or is mentioned in the poems ''[[Grímnismál]]'', ''[[Sigrdrífumál]]'', ''[[Baldrs draumar]]'', and ''[[Hyndluljóð]]''. In ''Grímnismál'', [[List of names of Odin|Grimnir]] (Odin in disguise and not yet having revealed his identity) tells the boy Agnar in verse that Sleipnir is the best of horses ("Odin is the best of the [[Æsir]], Sleipnir of horses").<ref name=LARRINGTON58>Larrington (1999:58).</ref> In ''Sigrdrífumál'', the [[valkyrie]] [[Sigrdrífa]] tells the hero [[Sigurd|Sigurðr]] that [[runic alphabet|runes]] should be cut "on Sleipnir's teeth and on the sledge's strap-bands".<ref name=LARRINGTON169>Larrington (1999:169).</ref> In ''Baldrs draumar'', after the Æsir convene about the god [[Baldr]]'s bad dreams, Odin places a [[saddle]] on Sleipnir and the two ride to the location of [[Hel (location)|Hel]].<ref name=LARRINGTON243>Larrington (1999:243).</ref> The ''[[Völuspá hin skamma]]'' section of ''Hyndluljóð'' says that Loki produced "[[Fenrir|the wolf]]" with [[Angrboða]], produced Sleipnir with [[Svaðilfari]], and thirdly "one monster that was thought the most baleful, who was descended from [[Býleistr]]'s brother".<ref name=LARRINGTON258>Larrington (1999:258).</ref> |
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In chapter 42 of the ''Prose Edda'' book ''[[Gylfaginning]]'', while the god [[Thor]] was away from [[Asgard]] slaying giants in the north, when an unnamed [[hrimthurs]] disguised as a human stonemason appeared, offering to build a 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 builder would never be able to complete it in the agreed upon six month time frame. The builder asked one thing: the use of his gray stallion, [[Svadilfari]]. [[Loki]] agreed to this condition. |
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===''Prose Edda''=== |
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The work began. Using the stallion, the builder 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, he would feel their wrath. Then, as Svadilfari was dragging the final brick to complete the wall back to Asgard, Loki transformed into a [[mare]], and led the stallion away, angering the builder. The builder went into a great rage, and revealed himself as a hrimthurs. Thor appeared and smashed the hrimthurs on the head with his hammer, [[Mjollnir]]. Afterward, Loki later gave birth to Sleipnir. According to ''[[Sigrdrífumál]]'' in the ''[[Poetic Edda]]'', Sleipnir has runes carved on his teeth. |
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[[Image:Processed SAM sleipnir.jpg|thumb|An illustration of Odin riding Sleipnir from an 18th century Icelandic manuscript.]] |
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In the ''Prose Edda'' book ''[[Gylfaginning]]'', Sleipnir is first mentioned in chapter 15 where the ethroned figure of [[High, Just-As-High, and Third|High]] says that every day the Æsir ride across the bridge [[Bifröst]], and provides a list of the Æsir's horses. The list begins with Sleipnir: "best is Sleipnir, he is Odin's, he has eight legs."<ref name=FAULKES18>Faulkes (1995:18).</ref> In chapter 41, High quotes the ''Grímnismál'' stanza that mentions Sleipnir.<ref name=FAULKES34>Faulkes (1995:34).</ref> |
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In chapter 42, Sleipnir's origins are described. [[Gangleri]] (described earlier in the book as King [[Gylfi]] in disguise) asks High who the horse Sleipnir belongs to and what there is to tell about it. High expresses surprise in Gangleri's lack of knowledge about Sleipnir and its origin. High tells a story set "right at the beginning of the gods' settlement, when the gods at established [[Midgard]] and built [[Valhalla|Val-Hall]]" about an unnamed builder who has offered to build a fortification for the gods in three seasons that will keep out invaders in exchange for the goddess Freyja, the [[Sól (Sun)|sun]], and the [[Máni|moon]]. After some debate, the gods agree to this, but place a number of restrictions on the builder, including that he must complete the work within three seasons with the help of no man. The builder makes a single request; that he may have help from his stallion [[Svaðilfari]], and due to Loki's influence, this is allowed. The stallion Svaðilfari performs twice the deeds of strength as the builder, and hauls enormous rocks to the surprise of the gods. The builder, with Svaðilfari, makes fast progress on the wall, and three days before the deadline of summer, the builder was nearly at the entrance to the fortification. The gods convene, and figured out who was responsible, resulting in a unanimous agreement that, along with most trouble, Loki was to blame.<ref name=FAULKES35>Faulkes (1995:35).</ref> |
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==Later traditions== |
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[[Ásbyrgi]] (literally "Fort of the [[Æsir]]"), a distinctly [[horseshoe]]-shaped canyon in the northeast of [[Iceland]] is said to have been created when Sleipnir's hoof touched down.{{Fact|date=November 2008}} |
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The gods declare that Loki would deserve a horrible death if he could not find a scheme that would cause the builder to forfeit his payment, and threatened to attack him. Loki, afraid, swore oaths that he would devise a scheme to cause the builder to forfeit the payment, whatever it would cost himself. That night, the builder drove out to fetch stone with his stallion Svaðilfari, and out from a wood ran a mare. The mare neighed at Svaðilfari, and "realizing what kind of horse it was," Svaðilfari becomes frantic, neighs, tore apart his tackle, and runs towards the mare. The mare runs to the wood, Svaðilfari follows, and the builder chases after. The two horses run around all night, causing the building work to be held up for the night, and the previous momentum of building work that the builder had been able to maintain was not continued.<ref name=FAULKES36>Faulkes (1995:36).</ref> |
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A stainless steel statue of Sleipnir<ref>[http://flickr.com/photos/bobs-piccies/208887337/ Picture of statue]</ref>, designed by artist Stephen Field, is a prominent feature in the [[United Kingdom]] Midlands town of [[Wednesbury, England|Wednesbury]] (which means Woden [i.e. Odin]'s hill). |
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When the Æsir realize that the builder is a [[hrimthurs]], they disregard their previous oaths with the builder, and call for Thor. Thor arrives, and kills the builder by smashing the builder's skull into shards with the hammer [[Mjöllnir]]. However, Loki had such dealings" with Svaðilfari that "somewhat later" Loki gave birth to a gray [[foal]] with eight legs; the horse Sleipnir, "the best horse among gods and men".<ref name=FAULKES36/> |
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In chapter 49, High describes the death of the god [[Baldr]]. [[Hermóðr]] agrees to ride to Hel to offer a ransom for Baldr's return, and so "then Odin's horse Sleipnir was fetched and led forward". Hermóðr mounts Sleipnir and rides away. Hermóðr rides for [[Numbers in Germanic paganism|nine nights]] in deep, dark valleys where Hermóðr can see nothing. The two arrive at the river [[Gjöll]] and then continue to Gjöll bridge, encountering a maiden guarding the bridge named [[Móðguðr]]. Some dialogue occurs between Hermóðr and Móðguðr, including that Móðguðr notes that recently there had ridden five battalions of dead men across the bridge that made less than he. Sleipnir and Hermóðr continue "downwards and northwards" on the road to Hel, until arriving the two arrive at Hel's gates. Hermóðr dismounts from Sleipnir, tightens Sleipnir's [[Girth (tack)|girth]], mounts him, and spurs Sleipnir on. Sleipnir "jumped so hard and over the gate that it came nowhere near". Hermóðr rides up to the hall, and dismounts from Sleipnir. After Hermóðr's pleas to [[Hel (being)|Hel]] to return Baldr are accepted under a condition, Hermóðr and Baldr retrace their path backward and return to [[Asgard]].<ref name=FAULKES49-50>Faulkes (1995:49-50).</ref> |
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In chapter 16 of the book ''[[Skáldskaparmál]]'', a [[kenning]] given for Loki is "relative of Sleipnir".<ref name=FAULKES76>Faulkes (1995:76).</ref> In chapter 17, a story is provided in which Odin rides Sleipnir into the land of [[Jötunheimr]] and arrives at the residence of the [[jötunn]] [[Hrungnir]]. Hrungnir asks "what sort of person this was" wearing a golden helmet, "riding sky and sea", and says that the stranger "has a marvellously good horse". Odin wagers his head that no horse as good could be found in all of Jötunheimr. Hrungnir admitted that it was a fine horse, yet states that he owns a much longer-paced horse; [[Gullfaxi]]. Incensed, Hrungnir leaps atop Gullfaxi and, intending to attack Odin for Odin's boasting. Odin gallops hard ahead of Hrungnir, and, in his, fury, Hrungnir finds himself having rushed into the gates of Asgard.<ref name=FAULKES77>Faulkes (1995:77).</ref> In chapter 58, Sleipnir is mentioned among a liste of horses in ''[[Þorgrímsþula]]'': "Hrafn and Sleipnir, splendid horses [...]".<ref name=FAULKES136>Faulkes (1995:136).</ref> In addition, Sleipnir occurs twice in kennings for "[[ship]]" (once appearing in chapter 25 in a work by the [[skald]] Refr, and once appearing in chapter 49 in a work by the 10th century skald [[Úlfr Uggason]]).<ref name=FAULKES92and121>Faulkes (1995:92 and 121).</ref> |
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==Notes== |
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{{commons|Category:Sleipnir|Sleipnir}} |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{ |
{{refbegin}} |
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* Faulkes, Anthony (Trans.) (1995). ''Edda''. [[Everyman's Library|Everyman]]. ISBN 0-4608-7616-3 |
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* Larrington, Carolyne (Trans.) (1999). ''The Poetic Edda''. [[Oxford World's Classics]]. ISBN 0192839462 |
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* Orchard, Andy (1997). ''Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend''. [[Cassell]]. ISBN 0 304 34520 2 |
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{{refend}} |
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{{Odin}} |
{{Odin}} |
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Revision as of 01:27, 27 November 2008
In Norse mythology, Sleipnir (Old Norse "slippy"[1] or "is an eight-legged horse. Sleipnir is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. In both sources, Sleipnir is Odin's steed, is the child of Loki and Svaðilfari, is described as the best of all horses, and is sometimes ridden to the location of Hel. The Prose Edda contains extended information regarding the circumstances of Sleipnir's birth, that he is gray in color, and other details.
Attestations
Poetic Edda
In the Poetic Edda, Sleipnir appears or is mentioned in the poems Grímnismál, Sigrdrífumál, Baldrs draumar, and Hyndluljóð. In Grímnismál, Grimnir (Odin in disguise and not yet having revealed his identity) tells the boy Agnar in verse that Sleipnir is the best of horses ("Odin is the best of the Æsir, Sleipnir of horses").[2] In Sigrdrífumál, the valkyrie Sigrdrífa tells the hero Sigurðr that runes should be cut "on Sleipnir's teeth and on the sledge's strap-bands".[3] In Baldrs draumar, after the Æsir convene about the god Baldr's bad dreams, Odin places a saddle on Sleipnir and the two ride to the location of Hel.[4] The Völuspá hin skamma section of Hyndluljóð says that Loki produced "the wolf" with Angrboða, produced Sleipnir with Svaðilfari, and thirdly "one monster that was thought the most baleful, who was descended from Býleistr's brother".[5]
Prose Edda
In the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, Sleipnir is first mentioned in chapter 15 where the ethroned figure of High says that every day the Æsir ride across the bridge Bifröst, and provides a list of the Æsir's horses. The list begins with Sleipnir: "best is Sleipnir, he is Odin's, he has eight legs."[6] In chapter 41, High quotes the Grímnismál stanza that mentions Sleipnir.[7]
In chapter 42, Sleipnir's origins are described. Gangleri (described earlier in the book as King Gylfi in disguise) asks High who the horse Sleipnir belongs to and what there is to tell about it. High expresses surprise in Gangleri's lack of knowledge about Sleipnir and its origin. High tells a story set "right at the beginning of the gods' settlement, when the gods at established Midgard and built Val-Hall" about an unnamed builder who has offered to build a fortification for the gods in three seasons that will keep out invaders in exchange for the goddess Freyja, the sun, and the moon. After some debate, the gods agree to this, but place a number of restrictions on the builder, including that he must complete the work within three seasons with the help of no man. The builder makes a single request; that he may have help from his stallion Svaðilfari, and due to Loki's influence, this is allowed. The stallion Svaðilfari performs twice the deeds of strength as the builder, and hauls enormous rocks to the surprise of the gods. The builder, with Svaðilfari, makes fast progress on the wall, and three days before the deadline of summer, the builder was nearly at the entrance to the fortification. The gods convene, and figured out who was responsible, resulting in a unanimous agreement that, along with most trouble, Loki was to blame.[8]
The gods declare that Loki would deserve a horrible death if he could not find a scheme that would cause the builder to forfeit his payment, and threatened to attack him. Loki, afraid, swore oaths that he would devise a scheme to cause the builder to forfeit the payment, whatever it would cost himself. That night, the builder drove out to fetch stone with his stallion Svaðilfari, and out from a wood ran a mare. The mare neighed at Svaðilfari, and "realizing what kind of horse it was," Svaðilfari becomes frantic, neighs, tore apart his tackle, and runs towards the mare. The mare runs to the wood, Svaðilfari follows, and the builder chases after. The two horses run around all night, causing the building work to be held up for the night, and the previous momentum of building work that the builder had been able to maintain was not continued.[9]
When the Æsir realize that the builder is a hrimthurs, they disregard their previous oaths with the builder, and call for Thor. Thor arrives, and kills the builder by smashing the builder's skull into shards with the hammer Mjöllnir. However, Loki had such dealings" with Svaðilfari that "somewhat later" Loki gave birth to a gray foal with eight legs; the horse Sleipnir, "the best horse among gods and men".[9]
In chapter 49, High describes the death of the god Baldr. Hermóðr agrees to ride to Hel to offer a ransom for Baldr's return, and so "then Odin's horse Sleipnir was fetched and led forward". Hermóðr mounts Sleipnir and rides away. Hermóðr rides for nine nights in deep, dark valleys where Hermóðr can see nothing. The two arrive at the river Gjöll and then continue to Gjöll bridge, encountering a maiden guarding the bridge named Móðguðr. Some dialogue occurs between Hermóðr and Móðguðr, including that Móðguðr notes that recently there had ridden five battalions of dead men across the bridge that made less than he. Sleipnir and Hermóðr continue "downwards and northwards" on the road to Hel, until arriving the two arrive at Hel's gates. Hermóðr dismounts from Sleipnir, tightens Sleipnir's girth, mounts him, and spurs Sleipnir on. Sleipnir "jumped so hard and over the gate that it came nowhere near". Hermóðr rides up to the hall, and dismounts from Sleipnir. After Hermóðr's pleas to Hel to return Baldr are accepted under a condition, Hermóðr and Baldr retrace their path backward and return to Asgard.[10]
In chapter 16 of the book Skáldskaparmál, a kenning given for Loki is "relative of Sleipnir".[11] In chapter 17, a story is provided in which Odin rides Sleipnir into the land of Jötunheimr and arrives at the residence of the jötunn Hrungnir. Hrungnir asks "what sort of person this was" wearing a golden helmet, "riding sky and sea", and says that the stranger "has a marvellously good horse". Odin wagers his head that no horse as good could be found in all of Jötunheimr. Hrungnir admitted that it was a fine horse, yet states that he owns a much longer-paced horse; Gullfaxi. Incensed, Hrungnir leaps atop Gullfaxi and, intending to attack Odin for Odin's boasting. Odin gallops hard ahead of Hrungnir, and, in his, fury, Hrungnir finds himself having rushed into the gates of Asgard.[12] In chapter 58, Sleipnir is mentioned among a liste of horses in Þorgrímsþula: "Hrafn and Sleipnir, splendid horses [...]".[13] In addition, Sleipnir occurs twice in kennings for "ship" (once appearing in chapter 25 in a work by the skald Refr, and once appearing in chapter 49 in a work by the 10th century skald Úlfr Uggason).[14]
Notes
- ^ Orchard (1997:151).
- ^ Larrington (1999:58).
- ^ Larrington (1999:169).
- ^ Larrington (1999:243).
- ^ Larrington (1999:258).
- ^ Faulkes (1995:18).
- ^ Faulkes (1995:34).
- ^ Faulkes (1995:35).
- ^ a b Faulkes (1995:36).
- ^ Faulkes (1995:49-50).
- ^ Faulkes (1995:76).
- ^ Faulkes (1995:77).
- ^ Faulkes (1995:136).
- ^ Faulkes (1995:92 and 121).
References
- Faulkes, Anthony (Trans.) (1995). Edda. Everyman. ISBN 0-4608-7616-3
- Larrington, Carolyne (Trans.) (1999). The Poetic Edda. Oxford World's Classics. ISBN 0192839462
- Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 0 304 34520 2