Gná and Hófvarpnir
Videos
In Norse mythology, Gná is a goddess who runs errands in other worlds for the goddess Frigg and rides the flying, sea-treading horse Hófvarpnir. Gná and Hófvarpnir are attested in the Prose Edda, writ
The goddess Frigg sits on her throne, accompanied by two goddesses: Fulla, holding a wooden box, and Hlín, standing and observing everything. Facing them are the warrior goddess Gná and her horse Hófvarpnir. Illustration by Carl Emil Doepler (1882).
Frigg sends Gná, riding on Hófvarpnir, on an errand in Frigg and her Maidens (1902).
Sleipnir
Videos
In Norse mythology, Sleipnir is an eight-legged horse ridden by Odin. Sleipnir is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, writte
Gná and Hófvarpnir
…that Gná is a "goddess of fullness" and, in the 1800s, as potentially cognate to Fama from Roman mythology. Hófvarpnir and the eight-legged steed Sleipnir have been cited examples of transcendent horses in Norse mythology. In chapter 35 of the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, the enthroned figure of High…
Depiction of Sleipnir in a detail on the Tjängvide image stone.
"Odin and Sleipnir" (1911) by John Bauer.
An illustration of Odin riding Sleipnir from an 18th-century Icelandic manuscript.
An 18th century Prose Edda manuscript illustration featuring Hermóðr upon Sleipnir (left), Baldr (upper right), and Hel (lower right).