In Nordic mythology, Blóðughófi (sometimes anglicised Blodughofi and meaning "Bloody Hoof" in Old Norse) is the horse of Freyr and is attested in several þulur of horses.
Attestations
editKálfsvísa
editIn 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
editIn 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
editIn 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
editIn 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
editThe 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. JSTOR j.ctv28m3gh8.
Bibliography
editPrimary
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.