12/30/2023 0 Comments Sleipnir christmasIn the 13th century, the Icelander Snorri Sturluson wrote it. The Edda is a comprehensive collection of Norse mythology, and it is one of the primary sources mentioning myths related to Sleipnir. The Edda: A Collection of Norse Mythology An illustration of the god Odin on his eight-legged horse Sleipnir, from an Icelandic 18th century manuscript. ![]() The serpent is thrown into the sea, the wolf is chained, and Hel is relegated to the realm of the dead, becoming its guardian. The other three children, born with the giantess Angrbođa (Angrboda) of Jötunheimr-Fenrir the wolf, the serpent of Midgard, and Hel, the goddess of death-are deemed dangerous and are cast away. Sleipnir is the son of Loki, the only one of his “monstrous” children that the gods keep with them. On the day of the Twilight of the Gods, the fateful Ragnarök, Sleipnir, leads his master Odin into battle, adorned with a golden helmet. When Odin hangs for nine days and nights on the tree to gain knowledge of the runes, Sleipnir is initially tethered to the ash.ĭuring the winter solstice, Sleipnir leads the god’s wild hunt across the sky and woods, galloping ahead of the Valkyries and the Einherjars. Every day, Odin rides him to the gods’ council held at the base of Yggdrasil, near the source of Urđr. Like the tree, Sleipnir can travel and connect the worlds. Sleipnir is closely tied to the world tree Yggdrasill, supporting the nine worlds of Viking cosmogony. When Baldr dies, Hermod, another son of Odin, borrows Sleipnir to travel to Hel and plead with the goddess to allow Baldr’s return. Sleipnir is the only horse in Norse mythology capable of reaching the realm of Hel, the guardian goddess of the dead. Sleipnir, along with his son Grani, serves as the mount of Sigurd, a legendary hero in Norse mythology and the Nibelungenlied. This psychopomp function is reflected in pagan aristocratic funeral customs, where one or more horses are buried or cremated near the deceased. There, the Valkyries, Odin’s daughters, welcome them and offer them mead from the goat Heiđrún (Heidrun), who perched on the palace roof and grazed on the tender shoots of the Yggdrasil ash tree. They ride to the battlefields of men, and Sleipnir escorts the valiant, fallen warriors-the Einherjar-to his master’s prestigious hall, the Vallhöll. In his company, Odin crosses Bifröst, the rainbow bridge that links Asgard and Midgard and whose guardianship is entrusted to the god Heimdall, who hears the grass grow and every leaf fall, who sees to the ends of the world and needs no sleep. Sleipnir is also a psychopomp horse that carries fallen warriors to the Valhöll. Roles of Sleipnir Depiction of Sleipnir in a detail on the Tjängvide image stone. It is said that during Ragnarok, Odin will ride Sleipnir to the battlefield. Role in the Prophesy of Ragnarok: Sleipnir is mentioned in the context of the prophesied events of Ragnarok, the apocalyptic battle in Norse mythology.The horse was renowned for its ability to traverse great distances and realms. Symbolism: The number eight was significant in Norse mythology, and Sleipnir’s eight legs are often interpreted as a symbol of strength and speed.This characteristic is often mentioned in various Old Norse texts, including the Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson. Eight Legs: Sleipnir is distinctive for having eight legs, a unique feature among horses.Odin is often depicted riding Sleipnir across the sky and into the realm of the dead, known as Hel. Odin’s Steed: Sleipnir is most famously associated with Odin, the Allfather of the Norse pantheon.
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