Blóðughófi

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.

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

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]

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

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]

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]

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

• 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.

• 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.