![]() ![]() The mare ran all night, and all night Svadilfari chased after her. When the stallion saw the mare, his heart wasn’t the only organ that was roused by delight and lust, and he snapped his reins and bounded into the woods after her. ![]() Along their way, a mare, who was none other than Loki in disguise, whinnied to the stallion from a short distance away. That night, the giant and Svadilfari ventured into the snow-draped forest in search of stones. Loki pleaded with the gods to spare his life, and swore an oath that he would do as the gods desired, come what may. They threatened him with death if he couldn’t find a way to prevent the giant from finishing his task and making off with their beloved goddess Freya and the sun and moon, bringing neverending darkness and dreariness to the Nine Worlds. The anxious gods seized Loki and rebuked him for giving them such foul advice. Only the stones around the gate had yet to be put in place. When the end of winter was only three days ahead, the wall was strong enough to be impenetrable by almost any enemy, and – alarmingly – lacking little before it was finished. Namely, "in the old days," kids would leave hay for Sleipnir when Odin and his horse would come to leave gifts for the children, which later might have evolved into Santa Claus having an eight-reindeer sleigh.What was even more perplexing to them was that the giant’s stallion, Svadilfari (“Unlucky Traveler”) seemed to be doing almost twice as much work as the smith himself, hauling enormous boulders over considerable distances to add to the edifice. However, according to some critics, not enough attention was given to the fact that Sleipnir had eight legs.Īnother fun fact is that Sleipnir's eight legs might be the reason why Santa Claus is depicted with eight reindeers pulling his sleigh. Modern culture also showed interest in Sleipnir - the horse was featured in the first "Thor" film. It is also considered meaningful to those who need guidance and support in life – as it can bring power to those who need protection and enlightenment. In modern-day advertising, the symbol of Sleipnir is often used as a sign of athletic strength. His legs symbolize power, speed, eternal life, strength, transcendence, perception, and travel. ![]() There was symbolism behind the fact that he had eight legs – Sleipnir could bring souls across the nine worlds of Norse mythology. Photo: Glen Carrie / Unsplashįurthermore, another important power that Sleipnir had was that he could bring Odin in and out of Hel (the world of the dead). Sleipnir appears in the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda. According to Norse lore, Sleipnir could even fly and swim or run across the water. Sleipnir was faster, stronger, and louder than any other horse, and it was also brave and unstoppable. Its extra legs were located on its shoulders and haunches, giving the horse additional strength, speed, and power. Sleipnir was known for being Odin's companion on Odin's quests, and it was described as "the best among horses." These situations serve as a symbol of his duality – he was both "good" and "evil," the one to attract and create danger, only to then save everyone in the end. Loki would sometimes find solutions by shifting shape and changing sex to prevent potential harm. He would often create dangerous situations but would then manage to find a way out of them due to his intelligence and wit. The conceiving and birth of Sleipnir - and the whole situation before that - reveal a lot about Loki. Sleipnir thus became one of the followers of Odin on his journeys outside Valhalla, which was Odin's abode. The horse was recognized as an exceptionally powerful one, so Loki decided to give Sleipnir to Odin. In this way, Loki saved Asgard from potential harm and gave birth to Sleipnir. The mare was in heat, so the stallion followed the mare into the woods, disobeyed his owner, and thus Sleipnir was conceived. In one of these situations, being afraid of the punishment of gods and knowing that he had to do something to save Asgard, he turned himself into a mare and approached the stallion Svadilfari, owned by the giant who was a potential threat to Asgard. How was Sleipnir conceived?īeing a trickster god, Loki was well known for getting into situations that potentially caused harm to all gods, including himself (and the whole Asgard). Loki is known for being a trickster god, a joker in a way, and he was also known for his ability to change sex and shapes. Odin is one of the key gods in Norse mythology, and he got Sleipnir as a gift from Loki. ![]()
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