Overview
Sleipnir is the most extraordinary horse in Norse mythology. Grey in color and possessing eight powerful legs, he is unmatched in speed and endurance. Sleipnir can travel effortlessly across land, sea, and even the air, making him capable of bearing Odin anywhere in the Nine Realms.
His origin is equally remarkable: Sleipnir is the child of Loki — in mare form — and the giant stallion Svaðilfari. This unusual parentage results from Loki’s attempt to sabotage the giant mason who was building the walls of Asgard.
Sleipnir symbolizes divine swiftness, shamanic travel, and Odin’s boundless reach as the wanderer who seeks wisdom throughout creation.
Key Roles
Steed of Odin
Sleipnir carries Odin across the realms, aiding him in quests for knowledge and during journeys into the world of the dead.
Eight-Legged Power
Sleipnir’s eight legs give him superior balance, speed, and the ability to travel between worlds — even into realms unreachable by ordinary beings.
Symbol of Spiritual Passage
As Odin’s mount, Sleipnir represents movement between physical and spiritual worlds, fitting Odin’s role as a god of wisdom, magic, and death.
Born of Loki’s Shape-Shifting
Sleipnir’s parentage reflects Loki’s cunning and transformative power, as well as the unpredictable origins of great mythic beings.
Quick Facts
Related Stories
Domain
Across the Nine Realms
Sleipnir travels freely between worlds — Asgard, Midgard, Hel, Jötunheim — and even along the branches of Yggdrasil. No other horse can match his reach.