Svaðilfari

Svaðilfari is a horse in Norse mythology, known for its incredible strength and speed. It is the steed of the giant Hrungnir, who was renowned for his stony heart and immense power. The name Svaðilfari can be translated as "unlucky traveler" or "doomed traveler," hinting at its destiny.

The most famous tale involving Svaðilfari comes from the myths surrounding Thor. After Thor slays Hrungnir, the giant's broken head falls upon Thor's hammer, Mjolnir. Thor is then pinned by the hammer and unable to free himself. The dwarf Alvis, who was betrothed to Thor's daughter Thrud, comes to help Thor. Svaðilfari, despite its master's death, is drawn to Thor's daughter and becomes obsessed with her. It is said that Svaðilfari was so taken with Thrud that it willingly helped the dwarf Alvis by completing an impossible task: carrying the dwarf's bridal dowry from Jotunheim to Midgard.

However, Svaðilfari's assistance to Alvis was a deliberate trick by Thor. Thor, using his wit, managed to stall Alvis by asking him complicated questions about the nature of time and the cosmos. As the sun rose and Alvis was still answering, he was turned to stone by the sunlight, a common fate for giants and other mythical creatures in Norse lore. Svaðilfari, deprived of its beloved Thrud and its master, disappears from the narrative. Some interpretations suggest Svaðilfari's obsession with Thrud led to the birth of the god Magni, Thor's son.