Glaðr (sometimes anglicised as Glad, Gladr, or Glath) is a horse in Nordic mythology. It is listed as among the horses of the Æsir ridden to Yggdrasil each morning in the Poetic Edda. The Prose Edda specifically refers to it as one of the horses of the Day (likely Dagr), along with Skinfaxi.
Etymology The Old Norse word translates to English as "glad one", "shining one", or "bright one". It is derived from the adjective , meaning "bright", "shining" or "cheerful", and is cognate with modern English "glad".
Attestations Grímnismál In the poem Grímnismál of the Poetic Edda, Glaðr is one of the horses ridden by the gods as they go daily to Yggdrasil:
Old Norse text Bellows translationGlath and Gyllir, Gler and Skeithbrimir, Silfrintopp and Sinir, Gisl and Falhofnir, Golltopp and Lettfeti, On these steeds the gods shall go When dooms to give each day they ride To the ash-tree Yggdrasil.
Gylfaginning A similar list of horses is given in Gylfaginning in the Prose Edda:
Old Norse text Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur translationThe third root of the Ash stands in heaven; and under that root is the well which is very holy, that is called the Well of Urdr; there the gods hold their tribunal. Each day the Æsir ride thither up over Bifröst, which is also called the Æsir's Bridge. These are the names of the Æsir's steeds: Sleipnir is best, which Odin has; he has eight feet. The second is Gladr, the third Gyllir, the fourth Glenr, the fifth Skeidbrimir, the sixth Silfrintoppr, the seventh Sinir, the eighth Gisl, the ninth Falhófnir, the tenth. Gulltoppr, the eleventh Léttfeti. Baldr's horse was burnt with him
Skáldskaparmál The Skáldskaparmál describes Glaðr being one of the horses of the day, or Dagr, along with Skinfaxi. Old Norse text Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur translationArvakr and Alsvidir draw the Sun, as is written before; Hrímfaxi or Fjörsvartnir draw the Night; Skinfaxi and Gladr are the Day's horses.
The Þulur list Glaðr along with other horses such as Blóðughófi, Grani and Árvakr.
Háttatal In Háttatal, Glaðr is used as a heiti for a horse in a kenning for a ship.
See also List of horses in mythology and folklore#Germanic Horses in Germanic paganism
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