white horse in norse mythology

Odin wagers his head that no horse as good could be found in all of Jötunheimr. It appears in The Violet Fairy Book and attributes more than usual magical powers to the ancient Roman poet Virgil (see also Virgil#Mysticism and hidden meanings). In Book I, "The Vision of the King," he writes of earliest England, invoking the white horse hill figure and the gods: Before the gods that made the gods Sigurd tells the old man that he is going to choose a horse, and asks the old man to come with him to help him decide. "[4] In Baldrs draumar, after the Æsir convene about the god Baldr's bad dreams, Odin places a saddle on Sleipnir and the two proceed to the location of Hel. Horses of the Æsir ... White horses in mythology This page was last edited on 23 October 2020, at 14:09 (UTC). Had seen their sunrise pass, After some debate, the gods agree to this, but place a number of restrictions on the builder, including that he must complete the work within three seasons with the help of no man. [3] In Sigrdrífumál, the valkyrie Sigrdrífa tells the hero Sigurðr that runes should be cut "on Sleipnir's teeth and on the sledge's strap-bands. During the ride back, Hadingus trembles beneath the old man's mantle, and peers out of its holes. Poseidon was also the creator of horses, creating them out of the breaking waves when challenged to make a beautiful land animal. The list begins with Sleipnir: "best is Sleipnir, he is Odin's, he has eight legs. Viking & white horse. Above the rider on the Tjängvide image stone is a horizontal figure holding a spear, which may be a valkyrie, and a female figure greets the rider with a cup. In modern times, Sleipnir appears in Icelandic folklore as the creator of Ásbyrgi, in works of art, literature, software, and in the names of ships. In Norse mythology, Sleipnir /ˈsleɪpnɪər/ (Old Norse "slippy"[1] or "the slipper"[2]) is an eight-legged horse ridden by Odin. Hermóðr mounts Sleipnir and rides away. This list may not reflect recent changes . In more than one tradition, the white horse carries patron saints or the world saviour in the end times (as in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), is associated with the sun or sun chariot (Ossetia) or bursts into existence in a fantastic way, emerging from the sea or a lightning bolt. The builder makes a single request; that he may have help from his stallion Svaðilfari, and due to Loki's influence, this is allowed. Many animals appear in Norse mythology, but few are as immediately recognizable as Sleipnir. The two horses ran around all night, causing the building work to be held up for the night, and the previous momentum of building work that the builder had been able to maintain was not continued. [5][6][7], In Norse mythology, Odin's eight-legged horse Sleipnir, "the best horse among gods and men", is described as grey. The encyclopedia cites parallels between the birth of Sleipnir and myths originally pointing to a Celtic goddess who gave birth to the Divine horse twins. Pegasus from Greek mythology), or having horns (the unicorn). Odin gallops hard ahead of Hrungnir, and, in his, fury, Hrungnir finds himself having rushed into the gates of Asgard. Norse Mythology: Volume 1 Read Now Checkout Pre-Ordered Manage Pre-Orders Unavailable for purchase in Your credit card on file lists an address in . A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - In Norse mythology, the Valkyries were the choosers of the slain. Hippogriff. Sources from the 17th century suggest that Odin was still believed to be a protector of horses. Uchchaihshravas was born alongside other mythical objects such as the elixir of life and Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune, from the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, an incident found in ancient Hindu texts. Get up to 50% off. Dark Horse Reviews Norse Mythology Reviews. Was cut out of the grass. The divinity takes this form during the last 10 days of every month of the Zoroastrian calendar, and also in a cosmogonical battle for control of rain. Actual historical background of the story is dubious because Svatopluk I was already dead when the first Hungarian tribes arrived. Decorate your laptops, water bottles, helmets, and cars. Hermóðr agrees to ride to Hel to offer a ransom for Baldr's return, and so "then Odin's horse Sleipnir was fetched and led forward." The Prose Edda contains extended information regarding the circumstances of Sleipnir's birth, and details that he is grey in color. âArvakâ means âearly awakeâ and âAlsvidâ means âall swiftâ. "[24], The Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture theorizes that Sleipnir's eight legs may be the remnants of horse-associated divine twins found in Indo-European cultures and ultimately stemming from Proto-Indo-European religion. [14] In addition, Sleipnir occurs twice in kennings for "ship" (once appearing in chapter 25 in a work by the skald Refr, and "sea-Sleipnir" appearing in chapter 49 in Húsdrápa, a work by the 10th century skald Úlfr Uggason).[15]. Siddhartha used Kanthaka in all major events described in Buddhist texts prior to his renunciation of the world. This page was last edited on 29 December 2020, at 07:56. Hadingus and Liserus set out to wage war on Lokerus, ruler of Kurland. Both stones feature a rider sitting atop an eight-legged horse, which some scholars view as Odin. The mythological symbolism of white horses has been picked up as a trope in literature, film, and other storytelling. If this is â¦ Because of this, she has been linked to the Romano-Celtic fertility horse goddess Epona and other instances of the veneration of horses in early Indo-European culture. The city of Hanoi honours a white horse as its patron saint with a temple dedicated to this revered spirit, the White Horse or Bach Ma Temple ( "bach" means white and "ma" is horse). [22], Detail of figure riding an eight-legged horse on the Tjängvide image stone, John Lindow theorizes that Sleipnir's "connection to the world of the dead grants a special poignancy to one of the kennings in which Sleipnir turns up as a horse word," referring to the skald Úlfr Uggason's usage of "sea-Sleipnir" in his Húsdrápa, which describes the funeral of Baldr. Horses in Norse mythologyâ (17 P) P ... Water horse; White horses in mythology; White Horse of Kent; Wihwin; Wind Horse; Winged unicorn This page was last edited on 14 June 2020, at 17:04 (UTC). Davidson says that while attempts have been made to connect Sleipnir with hobby horses and steeds with more than four feet that appear in carnivals and processions, but that "a more fruitful resemblance seems to be on the bier on which a dead man is carried in the funeral procession by four bearers; borne along thus, he may be described as riding on a steed with eight legs." Kalki , the tenth incarnation of Vishnu and final world saviour, is predicted to appear riding a white horse, or in the form of a white horse. The form and setting of the site led Pollard to conclude that the White Horse was originally created as a depiction of a âsolar horse,â a creature found in the mythology of many ancient Indo-European cultures. Loki, afraid, swore oaths that he would devise a scheme to cause the builder to forfeit the payment, whatever it would cost himself. In Revelation 6, the rider has just one crown given, not taken, indicating a third person giving authority to â¦ Hayagriva the Avatar of Vishnu is worshipped as the God of knowledge and wisdom, with a human body and a horse's head, brilliant white in colour, with white garments and seated on a white lotus. Sigurd names the horse Grani, and the narrative adds that the old man was none other than (the god) Odin. Modern scholars have suggested that the name was rooted in the proto Indo-European word bhel-, meaning âwhite.â Words for âwhiteâ were commonly used to describe Baldur and other Norse deities. Together they fly like the wind between worlds mortal and divine. May 16, 2019 February 6, 2018 by Metin. "[10], In chapter 49, High describes the death of the god Baldr. [15][16] Uchaishravas was at times ridden by Indra, lord of the devas. Horses played a significant part in Norse mythology. Extract â 26 | 27 â Chapter 4 Horses of Norse Mythology With his identity protected under his wide-brimmed hat, the wise and fearsome one-eyed god Odin dashes through Norse sagas on his magical, wingless, eight-legged gray horse named Sleipnir. Lindow continues that "his use of Sleipnir in the kenning may show that Sleipnir's role in the failed recovery of Baldr was known at that time and place in Iceland; it certainly indicates that Sleipnir was an active participant in the mythology of the last decades of paganism." In Norse mythology, Sleipnir /ËsleÉªpnÉªÉr/ (Old Norse "slippy" or "the slipper" ) is an eight-legged horse ridden by Odin. After Hermóðr's pleas to Hel to return Baldr are accepted under a condition, Hermóðr and Baldr retrace their path backward and return to Asgard. There is a strong connection between pagan worship and sacred horses in the Old Norse sources (O´Donoghue 2007:61). Text â¦ Uchchaihshravas (now thereâs a mouthful) is a white, seven-headed flying horse that serves as the mount for the Hindu god-king of heaven Indra and, in other stories, Bali, the king of demons. In Blackfoot mythology, the snow deity Aisoyimstan is a white-coloured man in white clothing who rides a white horse. Indra is depicted as having a liking for white horses in several legends â he often steals the sacrificial horse to the consternation of all involved, such as in the story of Sagara,[17] or the story of King Prithu.[18]. The second set of horses are referred to as "the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world." The Norse god of war and death, the All-father had various powers such as foresight and mind projection as well as companions that helped him during his adventures. Gangleri (described earlier in the book as King Gylfi in disguise) asks High who the horse Sleipnir belongs to and what there is to tell about it. "[12] In chapter 17, a story is provided in which Odin rides Sleipnir into the land of Jötunheimr and arrives at the residence of the jötunn Hrungnir. Saved by Jozef Crooks. According to Norse mythology, Gna was Frigg's messenger and a wind goddess, who rides though the sky on her horse, Hofvarpnir. Sleipnir is generally accepted as depicted on two 8th century Gotlandic image stones: the Tjängvide image stone and the Ardre VIII image stone. [34], The white horse is a recurring motif in Ibsen's play Rosmersholm, making use of the common Norse folklore that its appearance was a portent of death. In this latter tale (Yasht 8.21â29), which appears in the Avesta's hymns dedicated to Tishtrya, the divinity is opposed by Apaosha, the demon of drought, which appears as a black stallion.[12]. White horses appear many times in Hindu mythology and stand for the sun. Usually shown as a large white stallion, Sleipnir is mentioned more often in written myths than many of the gods he lived among. White horses have a special significance in the mythologies of cultures around the world. Later in the Book of Revelation, Christ rides a white horse out of heaven at the head of the armies of heaven to judge and make war upon the earth. Tulpar. Dain: Noszlopy, George Thomas. As a rare or distinguished symbol, a white horse typically bears the hero- or god-figure in ceremonial roles or in triumph over negative forces. Horses in Norse mythologyâ ... 74 P) Pages in category "Horses in mythology" The following 2 pages are in this category, out of 2 total. The two drive the horses down into the deeps of Busiltjörn, and all of the horses swim back to land but a large, young, and handsome grey horse that no one had ever mounted. ... Review: Norse Mythology #3 ... Review: Batman: Black & White #1 Review: Justice League: Endless Winter #1 Recent Posts. Odinâs supernaturally fast horse travels between worlds on eight legs. Sleipnir, Odinâs Horse in Norse Mythology, Facts and Myths. Review: Norse Mythology #3. by Seth Singleton December 17, 2020. In the New Testament, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse include one seated on a white horse[20] and one on a pale horse â the "white" horse carried the rider Conquest (traditionally, Pestilence) while the "pale" horse carried the rider Death. Selecting among half of those who die in battle the Valkyries [â¦] Sleipnir and Hermóðr continue "downwards and northwards" on the road to Hel, until the two arrive at Hel's gates. Following the departure of Siddhartha, it was said that Kanthaka died of a broken heart.[19]. Sleipnir is also mentioned in a riddle found in the 13th century legendary saga Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks, in the 13th-century legendary saga Völsunga saga as the ancestor of the horse Grani, and book I of Gesta Danorum, written in the 12th century by Saxo Grammaticus, contains an episode considered by many scholars to involve Sleipnir. A secondary pair of twins fathered by Zeus, Amphion and Zethus, the legendary founders of Thebes, are called "Dioskouroi, riders of white horses" (Î»ÎµÏÎºÏÏÏÎ»Î¿Ï) by Euripedes in his play The Phoenician Women (the same epithet is used in Heracles and in the lost play Antiope). [26] Sleipnir is depicted with Odin on Dagfin Werenskiold's wooden relief Odin på Sleipnir (1945–1950) on the exterior of the Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway. Such words were often translated as âbrightâ or âshining,âas their meaning referred not only to the colorâ¦ The British author G. K. Chesterton wrote an epic poem titled Ballad of the White 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. [9], In Slavic mythology, the war and fertility deity Svantovit owned an oracular white horse; the historian Saxo Grammaticus, in descriptions similar to those of Tacitus centuries before, says the priests divined the future by leading the white stallion between a series of fences and watching which leg, right or left, stepped first in each row. This custom roots in the ancient Eastern belief that stolen land would lose its fertility. High expresses surprise in Gangleri's lack of knowledge about Sleipnir and its origin. The Valkyries were females riding on horses armed with helmets and spears. [18], In book I, the young Hadingus encounters "a certain man of great age who had lost an eye" who allies him with Liserus. Al-BurÄq (Arabic: Ø§ÙØ¨ÙØ±Ø§Ù‎ al-BurÄq "lightning") isn't mentioned in the Quran but in some hadith ("tradition") literature. Skalm, a mare who is the first Icelandic horse known by name, appeared in the Landnámabók (the Book of Settlements) from the 12th century. Alsvinder: Rapid Goer. And so, when our leaders saw this army, they ... recognised the aid of Christ, whose leaders were St. George, Mercurius, and Demetrius. White horses have a special significance in the mythologies of cultures around the world. The mare ran to the wood, Svaðilfari followed, and the builder chased after. "[20], Two of the 8th century picture stones from the island of Gotland, Sweden depict eight-legged horses, which are thought by most scholars to depict Sleipnir: the Tjängvide image stone and the Ardre VIII image stone. Hermóðr dismounts from Sleipnir, tightens Sleipnir's girth, mounts him, and spurs Sleipnir on. Viking Art Viking Warrior Old Norse Norse Vikings Asatru Viking Tattoos Norse Mythology Gods And Goddesses Mythical Creatures. In Irish Myth Donn "god of the dead" portrayed as a phantom horseman riding a white horse, is considered an aspect of The Dagda "the great God" also known as "the horseman" and is the origin of the Irish "Loch nEachach" for Loch Neagh. 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. Davidson says that the song is sung when a distinguished Muria dies, and provides a verse:[23], Davidson adds that the representation of Odin's steed as eight-legged could arise naturally out of such an image, and that "this is in accordance with the picture of Sleipnir as a horse that could bear its rider to the land of the dead. Originating in Turkish mythology, Tulpars are flying horses that were usually black or white. According to tradition, Abraham lived with one wife (Sarah) in Syria, but Al-Buraq would transport him in the morning to Makkah to see his family there, and then take him back to his Syrian wife in the evening. Sleipnir was the mount of Odin in Norse mythology. Shop high-quality unique Odin And Sleipnir T-Shirts designed and sold by artists. [10], One of the titles of God in Hungarian mythology was HadÃºr, who, according to an unconfirmed source, wears pure copper and is a metalsmith. In both sources, Sleipnir is Odin's steed, is the child of Loki and Svaðilfari, is described as the best of all horses, and is sometimes ridden to the location of Hel. They are often associated with the sun chariot, with warrior-heroes, with fertility (in both mare and stallion manifestations), or with an end-of-time saviour, but other interpretations exist as well. The White Horse of the White Horse Vale In both sources, Sleipnir is Odin's steed, is the child of Loki and Svaðilfari, is described as the best of all horses, and is sometimes ridden to the location of Hel. Al-Buraq was also said to transport Abraham (IbrÃ¢hÃ®m) when he visited his wife Hagar (HÄjar) and son Ishmael (IsmÃ¢'Ã®l). [8], In chapter 43, Sleipnir's origins are described. Davidson says that while the creature may vary, the horse is fairly common "in the lands where horses are in general use, and Sleipnir's ability to bear the god through the air is typical of the shaman's steed" and cites an example from a study of shamanism by Mircea Eliade of an eight-legged foal from a story of a Buryat shaman. Though some mythologies are stories from earliest beliefs, other tales, though visionary or metaphorical, are found in liturgical sources as part of preserved, on-going traditions (see, for example, "Iranian tradition" below). From earliest times, white horses have been mythologised as possessing exceptional properties, transcending the normal world by having wings (e.g. Another of Loki's delightful children, Fenrir the Wolf is the fiercest and most vicious of all the â¦ Kalki, the tenth incarnation of Vishnu and final world saviour, is predicted to appear riding a white horse, or in the form of a white horse. they were the celestial horses in Norse mythology which pulled the chariot of sun goddess Sol. [8] Sleipnir is also the ancestor of another grey horse, Grani, who is owned by the hero Sigurd. [11] For example, the heroic prince or white knight of fairy tales often rides a white horse. So, who exactly are those famous Norse gods and goddesses, and what is Norse Mythology? Some dialogue occurs between Hermóðr and Móðguðr, including that Móðguðr notes that recently there had ridden five battalions of dead men across the bridge that made less sound than he. The stallion Svaðilfari performs twice the deeds of strength as the builder, and hauls enormous rocks to the surprise of the gods. The La TÃ¨ne style hill figure in England, the Uffington White Horse dates back to the Bronze Age and is similar to some Celtic coin horse designs. Like Freyr and Njörðr, Sleipnir is responsible for carrying the dead to the otherworld." [4] [citation needed] The ancient Magyars sacrificed white stallions to him before a battle. Sleipnir "jumped so hard and over the gate that it came nowhere near." [35], New Testament: Book of Revelation, Ch 6:2 (NIV), New Testament: Book of Revelation, Ch 6:8 (NIV), New Testament: Book of Revelation, Ch 19:11-6 (NIV), "Reflexes of Ancient Ideas about Divine Twins in the Images of Saints George and Nicholas in Belarusian Folklore", "Apollodorus, Library, book 3, chapter 5, section 5", The Trinity-Ð¢ÑÐ¾ÑÑÑÐ²Ð¾-Ð¢ÑÐ¸Ð³Ð»Ð°Ð², The Religion of Ossetia: Uastyrdzhi and Nart Batraz in Ossetian mythology, "1995 article with images by Barbara Cohen", Audio recording of a White Horse legend from Newfoundland, Canada, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=White_horses_in_mythology&oldid=994248331, Mythologies of the indigenous peoples of North America, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2008, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 December 2020, at 19:58. White or transparent. When the people gathered to pray for a king, the horse emerged from a bolt of lightning, bowing to a shining egg. Fenrir. Scholarly theories have been proposed regarding Sleipnir's potential connection to shamanic practices among the Norse pagans. They pulled Solâs chariot carrying a fireball from Muspelheim, which provided very high thermal force. In the Poetic Edda, Sleipnir appears or is mentioned in the poems Grímnismál, Sigrdrífumál, Baldrs draumar, and Hyndluljóð. [citation needed], In Zoroastrianism, one of the three representations of Tishtrya, the hypostasis of the star Sirius, is that of a white stallion (the other two are as a young man, and as a bull). In Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks, the poem Heiðreks gátur contains a riddle that mentions Sleipnir and Odin: In chapter 13 of Völsunga saga, the hero Sigurðr is on his way to a wood and he meets a long-bearded old man he had never seen before. mythology. The old man says that they should drive the horses down to the river Busiltjörn. [3] Because of this, she has been linked to the Romano-Celtic fertility horse goddess Epona and other instances of the veneration of horses in early Indo-European culture. [13] The Vedic horse sacrifice or Ashvamedha was a fertility and kingship ritual involving the sacrifice of a sacred grey or white stallion. Because of this, she has been linked to the Romano-Celtic fertility horse goddess Epona and other instances of the veneration of horses in early Indo-European culture. She is often associated with Epona. E. Epona; W. White horses in mythology This page was last edited on 30 September 2020, at 20:07 (UTC). The grey-bearded old man says that the horse is from "Sleipnir's kin" and that "he must be raised carefully, because he will become better than any other horse." White horses are the most common type of hill figure in England. On the other hand, even Herodotus mentions in his Histories an Eastern custom, where sending a white horse as payment in exchange for land means casus belli. Hermóðr rides up to the hall, and dismounts from Sleipnir. Hadingus realizes that he is flying through the air: "and he saw that before the steps of the horse lay the sea; but was told not to steal a glimpse of the forbidden thing, and therefore turned his amazed eyes from the dread spectacle of the roads that he journeyed. The builder, with Svaðilfari, makes fast progress on the wall, and three days before the deadline of summer, the builder was nearly at the entrance to the fortification. The scene has been interpreted as a rider arriving at the world of the dead. The only god who had rid it beside Odin was his son Hermod. These people believed that the sun either rode a horse or was drawn by one in a chariot across the sky. "[6], In the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, Sleipnir is first mentioned in chapter 15 where the enthroned figure of High says that every day the Æsir ride across the bridge Bifröst, and provides a list of the Æsir's horses. Herodotus reported that white horses were held as sacred animals in the Achaemenid court of Xerxes the Great (ruled 486â465 BC),[2] while in other traditions the reverse happens when it was sacrificed to the gods. When he grew up, he united six warring states. Fenrir is a terrible wolf, a huge being, and the son of the god Loki. "[21], Hilda Ellis Davidson says that "the eight-legged horse of Odin is the typical steed of the shaman" and that in the shaman's journeys to the heavens or the underworld, a shaman "is usually represented as riding on some bird or animal." The mare neighed at Svaðilfari, and "realizing what kind of horse it was," Svaðilfari became frantic, neighed, tore apart his tackle, and ran towards the mare. In Scandinavia, the conversion from this faith to Christianity never fully replaced belief in Norse God/desses. Arvak and Alsvid. [25], According to Icelandic folklore, the horseshoe-shaped canyon Ásbyrgi located in Jökulsárgljúfur National Park, northern Iceland was formed by Sleipnir's hoof. That night, the builder drove out to fetch stone with his stallion Svaðilfari, and out from a wood ran a mare. In Scottish folklore, the kelpie or each uisge, a deadly supernatural water demon in the shape of a horse, is sometimes described as white, though other stories say it is black. As the fireball was too hot, a huge shield Svalinn was installed on the forepart of the chariot to protect the chariot from being burnt. However, Loki had "such dealings" with Svaðilfari that "somewhat later" Loki gave birth to a grey foal with eight legs; the horse Sleipnir, "the best horse among gods and men. "[19], In book II, Biarco mentions Odin and Sleipnir: "If I may look on the awful husband of Frigg, howsoever he be covered in his white shield, and guide his tall steed, he shall in no way go safe out of Leire; it is lawful to lay low in war the war-waging god. When one thinks of Norse mythology, surely the first name that comes to mind is Odin. Some believe Rhiannon may have been the original Mother Goddess of the Celts. A. Lindow adds that the eight legs of Sleipnir "have been interpreted as an indication of great speed or as being connected in some unclear way with cult activity. The hippogriff, a creature that's an eagle in the front and a horse in the back, made its â¦ Hrungnir asks "what sort of person this was" wearing a golden helmet, "riding sky and sea," and says that the stranger "has a marvellously good horse." Hrungnir admitted that it was a fine horse, yet states that he owns a much longer-paced horse; Gullfaxi. In Irish Myth Donn "god of the dead" portrayed as a phantom horseman riding a white horse, is considered an aspect of The Dagda "the great God" also known as "the horseman" and is the origin of the Irish "Loch nEachach" for Loch Neagh. The Book of Zechariah twice mentions coloured horses; in the first passage there are three colours (red, dappled, and white), and in the second there are four teams of horses (red, black, white, and finally dappled) pulling chariots. The city of Pangantucan has as its symbol a white stallion who saved an ancient tribe from massacre by uprooting a bamboo and thus warning them of the enemy's approach. [14] Turaga was another divine white horse that emerged out of the ocean and taken by the sun god Surya. Arvakr: Early Waker. And the English nursery rhyme "Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross" refers to a lady on a white horse who may be associated with the Celtic goddess Rhiannon.[33]. One of CÃºchulainn's chariot-horses was called Liath Macha or "Macha's Grey"[citation needed]. [9], The gods declare that Loki would deserve a horrible death if he could not find a scheme that would cause the builder to forfeit his payment, and threatened to attack him. In Celtic mythology, Rhiannon, a mythic figure in the Mabinogion collection of legends, rides a "pale-white" horse. As an example, Davidson cites a funeral dirge from the Gondi people in India as recorded by Verrier Elwin, stating that "it contains references to Bagri Maro, the horse with eight legs, and it is clear from the song that it is the dead man's bier." In Scottish mythology, the kelpie is a water spirit that takes the form of a pure white horse. A huge white horse appears in Korean mythology in the story of the kingdom of Silla. "[23], Ulla Loumand cites Sleipnir and the flying horse Hófvarpnir as "prime examples" of horses in Norse mythology as being able to "mediate between earth and sky, between Ásgarðr, Miðgarðr and Útgarðr and between the world of mortal men and the underworld. WHITE HORSE AS SOLAR HORSE Abridged from Archaeology Magazine Carved into chalk of a hillside in southern England, the Uffington White Horse is unique. High tells a story set "right at the beginning of the gods' settlement, when the gods established Midgard and built Val-Hall" about an unnamed builder who has offered to build a fortification for the gods in three seasons that will keep out invaders in exchange for the goddess Freyja, the sun, and the moon. Who rides a `` white palfrey '' appears in Korean mythology in ancient... Between worlds mortal and divine Tattoos Norse mythology: Volume 1 Read Checkout! Of CÃºchulainn 's chariot-horses was called Liath Macha or `` Macha 's grey '' [ citation needed ] Actual background. 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