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Blóðughófi

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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

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Kálfsvísa

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In Kálfsvísa, Blóðughófi is named in a list of horses, where their rider is specified as the "Slayer of Beli", a name for Freyr:

Þorgrímsþula

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In Þorgrímsþula, Blóðughófi is named among a list of horses:

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

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In one of the anonymous þulur, Blóðughófi is named in a list of horses, as the variant, Blóðhófr (Blood-hoof):

Interpretation and discussion

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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]

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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

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References

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  1. ^ Skáldskaparmál, Chapter 72. Hestaheiti, Stanza 262.
  2. ^ a b Snorri Sturluson 2018, Skálddskaparmál, Chapter 72. Heiti for the horse.
  3. ^ Skáldskaparmál, Chapter 72. Hestaheiti, Stanza 261.
  4. ^ Wills 2020.
  5. ^ a b Gade 2017, p. 935, Hesta heiti, Stanza 4.
  6. ^ Orchard 2011, pp. 60–61, För Skírnis: Skírnir's journey, stanzas 8 & 9.
  7. ^ Simek 2008, pp. 157–158.
  8. ^ 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

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Primary

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Secondary

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