MythosData

norsecreatureshorses

Sleipnir

Odin's horse, "the best of steeds", borne by Loki to the stallion Svathilfari; Odin saddles him to ride down to Niflhel and the house of Hel in Baldrs draumar; runes were cut on his teeth. The eight legs are the Prose Edda's detail and are not mentioned in the poems.

Why this wins its question: Every summary says "eight-legged"; this object shows that the Poetic Edda never counts the legs, and gives the four stanzas that do attest the horse.

Key takeaways

  • Four eddic mentions — best of steeds, Loki's foal, Odin's mount to Hel, runes on his teeth.
  • The birth story (Loki as a mare, the giant's stallion) and the eight legs are the Prose Edda's; the poems give only the parentage line.

Claims

Every assertion below is bound to registered sources and carries its own confidence. Weight them; do not treat the page as uniformly authoritative.

  1. Sleipnir is the best of horses: "Of all the gods is Othin the greatest, / And Sleipnir the best of steeds" (Grimnismol 44).

    confidence 0.95The Poetic Edda — tr. Henry Adams Bellows (American-Scandinavian Foundation, 1923), XML edition by fjarri · primary

  2. Loki is his mother: "And Sleipnir bore he to Svathilfari" (Hyndluljoth 42); the poem gives no account of how.

    confidence 0.93The Poetic Edda — tr. Henry Adams Bellows (American-Scandinavian Foundation, 1923), XML edition by fjarri · primary

  3. Odin rides him to the dead: "the saddle he laid on Sleipnir's back; / Thence rode he down to Niflhel deep", to the high house of Hel (Baldrs draumar 2–3).

    confidence 0.95The Poetic Edda — tr. Henry Adams Bellows (American-Scandinavian Foundation, 1923), XML edition by fjarri · primary

  4. Among the places where runes were cut are "Sleipnir's teeth, and the straps of the sledge" (Sigrdrifumol 15).

    confidence 0.92The Poetic Edda — tr. Henry Adams Bellows (American-Scandinavian Foundation, 1923), XML edition by fjarri · primary

Questions answered

Who is the mother of Sleipnir?
Loki is his mother: "And Sleipnir bore he to Svathilfari" (Hyndluljoth 42); the poem gives no account of how. source
Where does Odin ride Sleipnir?
Odin rides him to the dead: "the saddle he laid on Sleipnir's back; / Thence rode he down to Niflhel deep", to the high house of Hel (Baldrs draumar 2–3). source
Whose horse is Sleipnir?
Sleipnir is the best of horses: "Of all the gods is Othin the greatest, / And Sleipnir the best of steeds" (Grimnismol 44). source
Does Sleipnir have eight legs?
Sleipnir is the best of horses: "Of all the gods is Othin the greatest, / And Sleipnir the best of steeds" (Grimnismol 44). source