Norse Mythology · creature

Sleipnir

Sleipnir
creaturethe eight-legged horse of Odin

The eight-legged horse of Odin, born of Loki (in the form of a mare).

Odin riding the eight-legged horse Sleipnir — Odin on Sleipnir (17th-c. Icelandic manuscript)
Odin on Sleipnir (17th-c. Icelandic manuscript) · Unknown (Icelandic manuscript illuminator) · 1667 · National Library of Iceland (Háskólabibliótekin), MS Neustadt 97 · Public domain
The account

Who they are

Sleipnir is the eight-legged horse of Odin, the only steed that can ride between the worlds [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗. In the myth of his birth, Loki, in the form of a mare, mated with the stallion Svaðilfari (a giant's horse) and bore Sleipnir [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗. Sleipnir is grey, eight-legged, and the fastest of horses; he carries Odin between the worlds [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
Worth knowing
  • The eight-legged horse of Odin [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
  • Born of Loki (in the form of a mare) and the stallion Svaðilfari [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
  • The only steed that can ride between the worlds [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
Relationships (2)

Connections

Family & kinship

PARENT_OFLoki — Loki (in the form of a mare) is the parent of Sleipnir.[S2]
PARENT_OFSíd — Síd (with Loki) is (in one account) the parent of Sleipnir.[S2]
Local graph

Their corner of the divine world

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hierarchical — generations top → bottom, partners side by side
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NORSE · 40variantvariantvariant♥♥♥♥♥♥BrísingamenGjallarhornDraupnirGungnirSkíðblaðnirMjölnirAngerboagiantthe giantess mother of the monsters4 relationsAuðhumblacreaturethe primordial cow2 relationsBestlagiantthe giantess mother of the gods3 relationsBúrideitythe first god3 relationsFriggdeitymarriage2 relationsGerðrgiantthe giantess beloved of Freyr2 relationsGinnungagaprealmthe void2 relationsHöðrdeitythe blind brother of Baldr4 relationsHrungnirgiantthe giant of the iron head2 relationsJárnsaxa (Járnsaxa)giantthe giantess mother of Thor's sons2 relationsLokitrickstercunning11 relationsMuspel (fire)realmfire0 relationsNannadeitythe wife of Baldr3 relationsNiflheim (ice)realmice0 relationsNjorddeitythe sea3 relationsSídgiantthe giantess who bore Sleipnir (in one accou…2 relationsSifdeitythe wife of Thor2 relationsSkaðideitythe huntress1 relationsSurtgiantthe fire-giant3 relationsTýrdeitywar1 relationsYmirgiantthe primordial giant5 relationsBorrdeitythe ancestor of the gods4 relationsFenrirmonsterthe great wolf8 relationsFreyjadeitylove3 relationsFreyrdeityfertility7 relationsHeldeitythe dead3 relationsJörmungandrmonsterthe world-serpent4 relationsSleipnircreaturethe eight-legged horse of Odin2 relationsOdindeitywisdom15 relationsVédeityone of the three brothers who made the world5 relationsVilideityone of the three brothers who made the world5 relationsBaldrdeitylight10 relationsHeimdalldeitythe watchman3 relationsThordeitythunder10 relationsVálideitythe avenger of Baldr2 relationsVíðarrdeitysilence2 relationsFosite (Forsétir)deitypeace3 relationsMagnideitystrength3 relationsMóðideitystrength4 relationsUllrdeitythe archer1 relations
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Myths featuring Sleipnir

1 story

Loki's Children

Loki, in the form of a mare, mated with the stallion Svaðilfari and bore Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse of Odin. With the giantess Angerboa, Loki fathered the great monsters: the wolf Fenrir, the world-serpent Jörmungandr, and Hel, the ruler of the dead [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.

READ THE STORY →

Artworks

Depictions

Odin riding the eight-legged horse Sleipnir — Odin on Sleipnir (17th-c. Icelandic manuscript)
Odin on Sleipnir (17th-c. Icelandic manuscript) · Unknown (Icelandic manuscript illuminator) · 1667 · National Library of Iceland (Háskólabibliótekin), MS Neustadt 97 · Public domain
Odin on Sleipnir (17th-c. Icelandic manuscript) · 1667
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