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In Nordic mythology, Blóðughófi (Old Norse: [ˈbloːðoɣˌhoːve], "Bloody Hoof", sometimes anglicised Blodughofi) is the horse of Freyr and is attested in several þulur of horses.
Attestations[edit]
Kálfsvísa[edit]
In Kálfsvísa, Blóðughófi is named in a list of horses, where their rider is specified as the "Slayer of Beli", a name for Freyr:
Dagr reið Drösli, | Dagr rode Drösull, |
| —Old Norse text[1] | —Modern English Translation[2] |
Þorgrímsþula[edit]
In Þorgrímsþula, Blóðughófi is named among a list of horses:
Blóðughófi hét hestr, | Blódughófi hight a horse |
| —Old Norse text[3] | —Modern English Translation[2] |
Here, they are described as being ridden by "öflgan Atriða", sometimes interpreted as a name of Freyr; however, the closely related spelling Atriða is used as a named of Odin.[4]
Anonymous þulur[edit]
In one of the anonymous þulur, Blóðughófi is named in a list of horses, as the variant, Blóðhófr (Blood-hoof):
Móinn, hestr, fjǫtri, Móðnir, róni, | |
| —Old Norse text[5] | —Modern English Translation[5] |
Interpretation and discussion[edit]
In Skírnismál, Freyr gives Skírnir his horse, which is able to run through fire to reach Jötunheimar for the wooing of Gerðr; however, the horse here is not named.[6]
The association between horses and Freyr is also seen in texts such as Hrafnkels saga, Vatnsdæla saga and Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar where horses are dedicated to the god; however, it has been noted that these sources are late and could be unreliable on this aspect.[7]
Popular culture[edit]
The title of Gerður Kristný's Blóðhófnir (2010), a poetic retelling of the myth of Gerðr, Freyr, and Skírnir, is a variation on the name Blóðughófi.[8]
See also[edit]
- Gullinbursti - boar also ridden by Freyr
- Sleipnir - horse ridden by Odin
- Uchchaihshravas - horse ridden by Indra
References[edit]
- ^ Skáldskaparmál, Chapter 72. Hestaheiti, Stanza 262.
- ^ a b Snorri Sturluson 2018, Skálddskaparmál, Chapter 72. Heiti for the horse.
- ^ Skáldskaparmál, Chapter 72. Hestaheiti, Stanza 261.
- ^ Wills 2020.
- ^ a b Gade 2017, p. 935, Hesta heiti, Stanza 4.
- ^ Orchard 2011, pp. 60–61, För Skírnis: Skírnir's journey, stanzas 8 & 9.
- ^ Simek 2008, pp. 157–158.
- ^ Crocker, Christopher; Geeraert, Dustin, eds. (2022-08-23). Cultural Legacies of Old Norse Literature: New Perspectives. Boydell & Brewer Ltd. doi:10.2307/j.ctv28m3gh8.16. ISBN 978-1-80010-609-3.
Bibliography[edit]
Primary[edit]
- Orchard, Andy (2011). The Elder Edda: A Book of Viking Lore. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 9780141393728.
- Snorri Sturluson (2018). The Prose Edda. Translated by Brodeur, Arthur Gilchrist. Franklin Classics Trade Press. ISBN 9780344335013.
- Gade, Kari Ellen (2017). Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols Publishers. ISBN 9782503518947.
- "Skáldskaparmál". Retrieved 28 August 2022.
Secondary[edit]
- Simek, Rudolf (2008). A Dictionary of Northern Mythology. Translated by Hall, Angela. BOYE6. ISBN 9780859915137.
- Wills, Tarrin (2020). "Skaldic Project - Atriða". Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages. Retrieved 15 January 2022.