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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

Kálfsvísa

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

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

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

Interpretation and discussion

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

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

• Gullinbursti - boar also ridden by Freyr
• Sleipnir - horse ridden by Odin
• Uchchaihshravas - horse ridden by Indra

References

Bibliography

Primary

• 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

• 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.