Gullfaxi
Encyclopedia
Gullfaxi is a horse in Norse mythology
. Its name means Golden mane.
It was originally owned by Hrungnir
, and was later given to Magni
by Thor
as a reward for helping him in the fight against Hrungnir:
Guldfaxe is equally fast on land, in the air and on the water, but not quite as fast as Sleipnir
, Odin's horse.
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
. Its name means Golden mane.
It was originally owned by Hrungnir
Hrungnir
Hrungnir was a jötunn in Norse mythology, slain by the god Thor with his hammer Mjölnir. The account is documented in the Skáldskaparmál, in the Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson....
, and was later given to Magni
Móði and Magni
In Norse mythology, Móði and Magni are the sons of Thor. Their names mean "Angry" and "Strong," respectively. Rudolf Simek states that, along with Thor's daughter Þrúðr , they embody their father's features....
by Thor
Thor
In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
as a reward for helping him in the fight against Hrungnir:
- 'And I will give thee,' he said, the horse Gold-Mane, which Hrungnir possessed.'
- Then OdinOdinOdin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
spake and said that Thor did wrong to give the good horse to the son of a giantess, and not to his father.- —Skáldskaparmál (17), http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/pre/pre05.htm
Guldfaxe is equally fast on land, in the air and on the water, but not quite as fast as Sleipnir
Sleipnir
In Norse mythology, Sleipnir is an eight-legged horse. Sleipnir is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson...
, Odin's horse.