Norse mythology Norse, Nordic, or Scandinavian mythology is the body of myths belonging to the North Germanic peoples, stemming from Old Norse religion and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia, and into the Nordic folklore of the modern period ...

, Hamskerpir and Garðrofa are a pair of horses who sired Hófvarpnir, the horse ridden by the

goddess A goddess is a female deity. In many known cultures, goddesses are often linked with literal or metaphorical pregnancy or imagined feminine roles associated with how women and girls are perceived or expected to behave. This includes themes of s ...

Gná. Hamskerpir and Garðrofa are attested in the '' Prose Edda'', written in the 13th century by

Snorri Sturluson Snorri Sturluson ( ; ; 1179 – 22 September 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was elected twice as lawspeaker of the Icelandic parliament, the Althing. He is commonly thought to have authored or compiled portions of the ...

Attestations

In chapter 35 of the ''Prose Edda'' book '' Gylfaginning'',

High High may refer to: Science and technology * Height * High (atmospheric), a high-pressure area * High (computability), a quality of a Turing degree, in computability theory * High (tectonics), in geology an area where relative tectonic uplift ...

provides brief descriptions of 16 ásynjur. High lists Gná thirteenth, and in his description provides a stanza that gives Gná's horse Hófvarpnir's parents as Hamskerðir and Garðrofa:

:"I fly not :though I fare :and move through the air :on Hofvarpnir :the one whom Hamskerpir got :with Gardrofa."Byock (2005:44).

Theories

John Lindow John Frederick Lindow (born July 23, 1946) is an American philologist who is Professor Emeritus of Old Norse and Folklore at University of California, Berkeley. He is a well known authority on Old Norse religion and literature. Biography John Lin ...

says that the name ''Hamskerpir'' does not have an obvious meaning, but that ''Garðrofa'' may mean "fence breaker." Lindow adds that two horses are otherwise unknown from any other source, and that the myths surrounding them have not survived.Lindow (147:2001).

Notes

References

* Byock, Jesse (Trans.) (2005). ''The Prose Edda''. Penguin Classics. * Lindow, John (2001).
Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs
'. Oxford University Press. {{DEFAULTSORT:Hamskerpir and Gardrofa Horses in Norse mythology Mythological duos