Sleipnir’s Family Tree

About Sleipnir →

Family

• Loki(parent),Svadilfari(parent)— Consort

  Loki, shapeshifted into a mare, lured the stallion Svaðilfari away from the master builder's work on Asgard's walls. Loki later gave birth to Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse who became Odin's steed.

• Grani(child)

  Grani is descended from Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged steed, making Sigurd's horse the offspring of the greatest mount in the Nine Worlds.

Serves

• Odin

  Odin rides the eight-legged horse Sleipnir, the swiftest of all steeds, across the nine worlds and between the realms of the living and the dead.

Associated with

• Helheim

  Sleipnir carried Hermóðr on the nine-night ride down the Helvegr to Helheim, leaping the gates of Hel in a single bound. Only Odin's eight-legged horse could make the journey to the land of the dead.

• Hermod

  Hermóðr borrowed Sleipnir from Odin to ride to Helheim and plead for Baldur's release. The eight-legged horse carried him through dark valleys for nine nights before leaping the gates of Hel.