Sleipnir
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{{for|other uses|Sleipner}}
[[Image:Ardre Odin Sleipnir.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Tjängvide image stone]] is thought to show Odin entering [[Valhalla]] riding on Sleipnir.]]
In [[Norse Mythology|Norse mythology]], '''Sleipnir''' is [[Odin]]'s magical eight-legged steed, and the greatest of all [[horse]]s. His name means ''smooth'' or ''gliding'', and is related to the English word "slippery". One popular image of Sleipnir is from the [[Tjängvide image stone]], but there is also a similar illustration on one of the [[Ardre image stones]], which are a collection of ten rune and image stones, dated to the [[eighth century|eighth]] through [[eleventh century|eleventh centuries]].
==The birth of Sleipnir==
{{Odin}}
[[Thor]], the Giant-Slayer, was away from [[Asgard]] slaying giants in the north, when a [[hrimthurs]] disguised as a human stonemason appeared, offering to rebuild the wall all around Asgard in exchange for the sun, the moon, and fair [[Freyja]]. The gods agreed, thinking that it would be good, since part of the wall was crumbling, and also believing the giant would never be able to complete it in the agreed upon six month time frame. The giant asked one thing: the use of his gray stallion, [[Svadilfari]] (literally, "slave", or possibly "ill-fated"). [[Loki]] quickly agreed before any of the other gods could reply.
The work began. Using the stallion, the giant began building the wall, and was well on his way to receiving the sun, the moon, and Freyja. The gods, seeing this, became furious at Loki, and said if they lost the sun, the moon, and Freyja, they would torture Loki eternally (which happened later anyway). Then, as Svadilfari was dragging the final brick to complete the wall back to Asgard, Loki transformed into a beautiful white [[mare]], and led the stallion away, angering the giant. When the giant began tearing down the wall, Thor appeared and smashed the giant on the head with his hammer, [[Mjollnir]].
Loki later gave birth to Sleipnir, the eight-legged steed of Odin, the offspring of the gray stallion Svadilfari and Loki when "he" was the beautiful white mare.
==The Eddas==
According to the [[Prose Edda]], Loki returned to Asgard and gave the eight-legged gray colt to [[Odin]], telling him that the horse was the swiftest on earth, and could bear Odin over sea, through the air, and to and from the land of the dead. According to [[Sigrdrífumál]] in the [[Poetic Edda]], Sleipnir has runes carved on his teeth.
==Multiple legs and toes==
[[Image:Odin_riding_Sleipnir.jpg|left|thumb|Odin rides Sleipnir in this drawing from an 18th century [[Iceland]]ic manuscript]]
The illustration of Sleipnir to the left includes extra [[toes]] on the horse as well as the legs separating at what would be the [[ankle]] of a horse rather than having eight legs.
Having more toes on a horse is something that occurs naturally, and the tales of Sleipnir might be references to a real horse with three toes on its legs, a genetic manifestation called [[polydactyly]]. This condition occasionally happens when two normally-[[vestigial]] toes appear on the legs of a horse, usually without harm or interference to the mobility of the animal. The concept of multiples might have shifted from toes to legs in oral traditions.
Although rare, it has been seen, both in ancient and contemporary times. [[Julius Caesar]] raised and rode just such a horse in a number of battles after it was declared an ''omen of good luck''.<ref>{{cite book |author=Gould, Stephen Jay |title=Hen's Teeth and Horse's Toes |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |location=New York |year= |pages= |isbn=0-393-31103-1 |oclc= |doi=}}</ref>
==Later traditions==
[[Ásbyrgi]] (literally "Fort of the [[Æsir]]"), a distinctly [[horseshoe]]-shaped canyon in the northeast of [[Iceland]] is said to have been created when Sleipnir's hoof touched down.
A stainless steel statue of Sleipnir<ref>[http://flickr.com/photos/bobs-piccies/208887337/ Picture of statue]</ref>, designed by artist Stephen Field, is a prominent feature in the [[United Kingdom]] Midlands town of [[Wednesbury, England|Wednesbury]] (which means Woden [i.e. Odin]'s hill).
==Familiar forms==
The name of Sleipnir is sometimes [[Old Norse orthography|anglicized]] as "Sleipner", especially in old popular works. This form of the name is also the one most commonly used in Scandinavia, except in Iceland.
==References==
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[[Category:Creatures in Norse mythology]]
[[Category:Mythological horses]]
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