Animals
In Norse Mythology
By Molly Kalafut
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Norse mythology mentions a number of different animals, and most animals are given names.
Boar
Gold-Bristle and Fearful-Tusk are boars of Freyr mentioned in the Prose Edda.
Cow
Audumla is the cow that nourished Ymir.
Dog
Garmr is a dog mentioned in the Prose Edda.
Goat
"Thor has two he-goats, that are called Tooth-Gnasher and Tooth-Gritter, and a chariot wherein he drives, and the he-goats draw the chariot" -Prose Edda
There are two he-goats mentioned in the Prose Edda; Tooth-Gnasher and Tooth-Gritter that pull Thor's chariot.
Heidrún is a she-goat whose udders gave mead to the Einherjar.
Hart
A number of harts are mentioned in the Prose Edda: Dáinn, Dalarr, Dalr, Duneyrr, Durathrór, Dvalinn, Eikthyrni and Módrödnir.
Hawk
Hábrók and Vedrfölnir are hawks mentioned in the Prose Edda.
Horses
There are a lot of horses mentioned in the Prose Edda. Most are described as the mounts of various gods and goddesses and such. There are also a variety of names for the horses involved the in the sun and moon chasing.
Sleipnir (son of Svadilfari) is the most famous of horses because he was Odin's mount. Goti was Gunnarr's horse. Grani was Sigurdr Fáfnisbani's horse. Gulltopr (also called "Gold-Top") was Heimdallr's horse. Hoof-Tosser was Gná's horse. Kertr was Bjárr's horse. Slöngvir was the horse of King Adils. Vakr was Morn's horse.
The sun horse names mentioned are All-Bright, Alsvidhr, Arvakr, Early-Wake, Gladr, Gullfaxi, Sheen-Mane, Shining-Mane and Skinfaxi. The night horse names mentioned are Fjörsvartnir and Frosty-Mane.
Other Horses
| Blódughófi | Gyllir | Módnir |
| Blakkr | Háfeti | Mór |
| Drösull | Hamskerpir | Silfrintoppr |
| Fákr | Hrafn | Sinir |
| Falhófnir | Hrímfaxi | Skeidbrimir |
| Fölkvir | Hnir | Skćvadr |
| Gardrofa | Hölvir | Sóti |
| Gísl | Jór | Stúfr |
| Glaumr | Léttfeti | Tjaldari |
| Glenr | Lungr | Valr |
| Glćr | Marr | Vigg |
Oxen
These are oxen mentioned in the Prose Edda: Apli, Arfr, Arfuni, Himinhrjódr, Hýrr, Raudr, Rekinn, Himinhrjódr, Hýrr, Raudr and Rekinn.
Raven
Quoth the raven, nevermore...oh wait, that's a poem from Edgar Allen Poe and not Norse mythology. Huninn and Munnin are Odin's ravens.
Serpent
Nídhöggr is the most famous serpent in Norse mythology that gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasill.
A number of other serpents are mentioned in the Prose Edda, including; Góinn, Grábakr, Grafvitnir and Grafvölludr, Móinn, Ófnir and Sváfnir.
Squirrel
Ratatöskr is the squirrel of Yggdrasill
Wolf
"It is two wolves; and he that runs after her is called Skoll; she fears him, and he shall take her. But he that leaps before her is called Hati Hródvitnisson. He is eager to seize the moon; and so it must be." -Prose Edda
Fenris-Wolf or Fenrir is of course the most well-known wolf in Norse mythology. Freki and Geri are wolves that belong to Odin. Hati Hródvitnisson and Sköll are two other wolves mentioned in the Prose Edda.