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Sleipnir

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In Norse mythology, Sleipnir is Odin's magical eight-legged steed, and the first of all horses. His name means smooth or gliding, hence the English word, slippery. Loki, in the guise of a mare, gave birth to Sleipnir by Svadilfari.

It has been suggested that Sleipnir having eight legs is symbolic of the four men who carry a coffin, i.e. a steed to carry the rider into the underworld. It might also be a reference to a real horse with three toes, rather than just the normal one, on two feet, either front or back. As this sometimes happens, without detriment to the horse, it might have worked its way into myth.

A stainless steel statue of Sleipnir is a prominent feature in the Midlands town of Wednesbury[?] (which means Odin's fort).

Alternative: Sleipner



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