In
Nordic 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 as the Nordic folklore of the modern period. The ...
, Blóðughófi (sometimes anglicised Blodughofi and meaning "Bloody Hoof" in
Old Norse
Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants ...
) is the
horse
The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 mi ...
of
Freyr
Freyr (Old Norse: 'Lord'), sometimes anglicized as Frey, is a widely attested Æsir, god in Norse mythology, associated with kingship, fertility, peace, prosperity, fair weather, and good harvest. Freyr, sometimes referred to as Yngvi-Freyr, was ...
and is attested in several
þulur of horses.
Attestations
Kálfsvísa
In
Kálfsvísa The ''Kálfsvísa'' ("Kálfr's '' vísa''", Kálfr being maybe the name of its author) is a poem partially preserved in Snorri Sturluson’s ''Skáldskaparmál''.
Its three stanzas in ''fornyrðislag
Old Norse poetry encompasses a range of vers ...
, Blóðughófi is named in a list of horses, where their rider is specified as the "Slayer of
Beli
Beli may refer to:
People
* Beli ap Rhun (c. 580–c. 599), king of Gwynedd
* Beli I of Alt Clut (perhaps died ''c''. 627), Brittonic king
* Beli II of Alt Clut (died ''c''. died 722), Brittonic king
* Ljubiša Preletačević Beli (bor ...
", a
name for Freyr:
Þorgrímsþula
In Þorgrímsþula, Blóðughófi is named among a list of horses:
Here, they are described as being ridden by "", sometimes interpreted as a
name of Freyr; however, the closely related spelling is used as a
named of Odin.
Anonymous þulur
In one of the anonymous þulur, Blóðughófi is named in a list of horses, as the variant, (Blood-hoof):
Interpretation and discussion
In
Skírnismál
''Skírnismál'' (Old Norse: 'The Lay of Skírnir', but in the Codex Regius known as ''Fǫr Skírnis'' ‘Skírnir’s journey’) is one of the poems of the ''Poetic Edda''. It is preserved in the 13th-century manuscripts Codex Regius and AM ...
, Freyr gives
Skírnir
In Norse mythology, Skírnir (Old Norse" ; "bright one") is the god Freyr's messenger and vassal. He appears in both the Poetic and Prose Eddas.
Attestations
''Poetic Edda''
In the Eddic poem '' Skírnismál'', Skírnir is sent as a mes ...
his horse, which is able to run through fire to reach
Jötunheimar for the wooing of
Gerðr
In Norse mythology, Gerðr (Old Norse: ; "fenced-in"Orchard (1997:54).) is a jötunn, Æsir, goddess, and the wife of the god Freyr. Gerðr is attested in the ''Poetic Edda'', compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources; the ''P ...
; however, the horse here is not named.
The association between horses and Freyr is also seen in texts such as
Hrafnkels saga
''Hrafnkels saga'' (; ) or ''Hrafnkels saga Freysgoða'' (O.N.: ; Ice.: ) is one of the Icelanders' sagas. It tells of struggles between chieftains and farmers in the east of Iceland in the 10th century. The eponymous main character, Hrafnkell, st ...
,
Vatnsdæla saga
''Vatnsdæla saga'' ( Icelandic: ; ; Old Norse: ''Vatnsdœla saga'') is one of the sagas of Icelanders. The saga follows several generations of a family originating in Norway and settling in the north of Iceland until the arrival of Christianity i ...
and
Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar
''Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar'' is the name of several kings' sagas on the life of Óláfr Tryggvason, a 10th-century Norwegian king.
Latin lives of Óláfr Tryggvason were written by Oddr Snorrason and by Gunnlaugr Leifsson; both are now lost, b ...
where
horses are dedicated to the god; however, it has been noted that these sources are late and could be unreliable on this aspect.
Popular culture
The title of
Gerður Kristný
Gerður Kristný (born 1970) is an Icelandic writer who is best known for her poetry and books for children.
Early life
Gerður Kristný was born on 10 June 1970 and brought up in Reykjavík. She graduated in French and comparative literature fro ...
's ''Blóðhófnir'' (2010), a poetic retelling of the myth of
Gerðr
In Norse mythology, Gerðr (Old Norse: ; "fenced-in"Orchard (1997:54).) is a jötunn, Æsir, goddess, and the wife of the god Freyr. Gerðr is attested in the ''Poetic Edda'', compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources; the ''P ...
,
Freyr
Freyr (Old Norse: 'Lord'), sometimes anglicized as Frey, is a widely attested Æsir, god in Norse mythology, associated with kingship, fertility, peace, prosperity, fair weather, and good harvest. Freyr, sometimes referred to as Yngvi-Freyr, was ...
, and
Skírnir
In Norse mythology, Skírnir (Old Norse" ; "bright one") is the god Freyr's messenger and vassal. He appears in both the Poetic and Prose Eddas.
Attestations
''Poetic Edda''
In the Eddic poem '' Skírnismál'', Skírnir is sent as a mes ...
, is a variation on the name Blóðughófi.
See also
*
Gullinbursti
Gullinbursti (Old Norse), meaning "Gold Mane" or "Golden Bristles") is a boar in Norse mythology.
When Loki had Sif's hair, Freyr's ship Skíðblaðnir, and Odin's spear Gungnir fashioned by the Sons of Ivaldi, he bet his own head with Brokkr ...
- boar also ridden by Freyr
*
Sleipnir
In Norse mythology, Sleipnir (Old Norse: "slippy"Orchard (1997:151). or "the slipper"Kermode (1904:6).) is an eight-legged horse ridden by Odin. Sleipnir is attested in the ''Poetic Edda'', compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional ...
- horse ridden by
Odin
Odin (; from ) is a widely revered god in Norse mythology and Germanic paganism. Most surviving information on Odin comes from Norse mythology, but he figures prominently in the recorded history of Northern Europe. This includes the Roman Em ...
*
Uchchaihshravas
In Hinduism, Uchchaihshravas (, or , ), () is a seven-headed flying horse, created during the churning of the ocean. It is considered the best of horses, as prototype and king of the horses. Uchchaihshravas is often described as a ''vahana'' ...
- horse ridden by
Indra
Indra (; ) is the Hindu god of weather, considered the king of the Deva (Hinduism), Devas and Svarga in Hinduism. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes
Indra is the m ...
References
Bibliography
Primary
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Secondary
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{{Norse mythology
Freyr
Horses in Norse mythology
Mythological horses