The slender fetter made of impossible things that bound the Fenrir wolf.
Gleipnir was forged by dwarves in Svartalfheimr from six impossible things: the sound of a cat's footsteps, a woman's beard, the roots of a mountain, the sinews of a bear, a fish's breath, and a bird's spittle. Despite its silken appearance it was impossible to break.
The Æsir tricked the Fenrir wolf into allowing itself to be bound with Gleipnir against a promise of release, a promise they never intended to keep. Týr sacrificed his hand as surety for the gods' pledge when the wolf sensed the deceit.
Attestations
- Gylfaginning 34
- Snorri recounts Gleipnir's creation and the binding of the Fenrir wolf.