Sleipnir
Sleipnir is the steed of Odin in Norse mythology.
Description[]
Sleipnir is depicted as a phantasmic yet monstrous horse that has eight legs and is capable of flying through the sky as well as travel underwater. He was also not infrequently depicted as a centaur. His name means "gliding smoothly."
Overview[]
Sleipnir is the child of Loki and the horse Svadilfari. In the aftermath of the Æsir-Vanir War, the defenses of Asgard where in ruin, and this made Asgard susceptible to the Jötunar leading an assault on the gods. Seeking a way to rebuild their fortress, they were approached by a lone giant who promised them to build the walls of Asgard in three nights. If he completes his task, he will ask for the sun, the moon, and the goddess Freyja. The gods promised the jötunn that if the he could rebuild the walls within an agreed-upon time, they will hand him Freyja although they planned on deceiving the giant behind his back.
The giant used the magical horse Svadilfari to complete their task on time. That is until Loki, threatened by the Æsir, changed himself into a mare and seduced Svadilfari and thus was Sleipnir born. Sleipnir would be given to Odin as a will of good gesture from Loki. Odin used Sleipnir to traverse across the Nine Realms of Yggdrasil and has also been used to gallop through war-torn fields to mark fallen warriors for Valhalla.