S is for Sleipnir

Sleipnir is Odin's horse in the Norse Myths. Sleipnir has 8 legs and is the fastest steed in all 9 worlds (see previous post N for a list of all the 9 worlds).

Early on in the Norse tales the Aesir and Vanir gods had a battle in which the wall of Asgard (the Aesir stronghold) was demolished. The two forces made a truce but the wall was trashed. The gods in Asgard were concerned that without fortification the giants might take advantage.

One day a man came promising to build the wall for the Asgard folks but at a hefty price, the hand of Freya (the most beautiful Fertility goddess) and the Sun and Moon. The gods initially balked at this price and Freya was furious. But Loki (the mischief maker) persuaded them to agree but with restrictions, that the builder must have no help and that the work must be completed in 3 seasons. The builder agreed but asked for the use of his horse. Reluctantly, it was agreed.

The gods were alarmed at the rate at which the builder's horse was able to haul massive stones and suspected there was afoot. Three days before the completion of the wall Loki decided to intervene (with serious pressure from the Aesir). Suddenly there was a pretty filly in the fields outside the castle walls who tempted the builder's horse to leave before the work was done.

When the builder was not able to finish the wall in time he became furious and turned back into his giant form all bets were off. Thor (the thunder god and wielder of the hammer Mjollnir) kills the giant. Loki returns from his little horse "affair", (Loki had turned himself into the pretty mare and got himself pregnant by the builder's horse), with the resulting offspring, Sleipnir the eight legged horse.

He gave Sleipnir to Odin and everyone was pleased with the wall (nearly completed) and Odin's new horse.