Gleipnir
Magical Fetter of Fenrir
Norse Mythology
Eiður Eyþórsson, 28th of July, 2026.
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Introduction
Gleipnir is a magical fetter in Norse mythology made by dwarfs in Svartálfaheimr at Odin’s command to bind the wolf Fenrir. It is the third and final fetter used against Fenrir after he breaks the earlier fetters, Læðingr and Drómi.
According to the Prose Edda, Gleipnir is fashioned from six ingredients: the sound of a cat’s footfall, a woman’s beard, the roots of a mountain, a bear’s sinews, a fish’s breath, and a bird’s spittle. Although made from these extraordinary materials, Gleipnir appears as a smooth, string of silk while possessing exceptional strength.
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Final Binding Of Fenrir
The gods take Gleipnir to the island Lyngvi in the lake Ámsvartnir and challenge Fenrir to break it. Fenrir becomes suspicious that so slight a band conceals some trickery and refuses to be bound unless one of the gods places a hand in his mouth as a pledge that they intend to release him if he does not succeed. Týr alone accepts this condition.
When Fenrir struggles against Gleipnir, the fetter tightens: the more he strains, the harder and sharper it becomes. Unable to break it, he remains bound, and Týr loses the hand he had pledged. The gods then secure Gleipnir by fastening its attached cord, Gelgja, through the stone Gjöll and anchoring it beneath the larger stone Þviti. Finally, they force a sword into Fenrir’s mouth to hold his jaws apart, where he remains bound until Ragnarök.
Gleipnir is also mentioned in an account of Týr, where his willingness to place his hand in Fenrir’s mouth while the wolf was being bound with Gleipnir is presented as the chief example of the god’s courage.
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Attestations
Gleipnir is only mentioned in the Prose Edda, in a section called Gylfaginning. The first mention of it is in a chapter about the god Týr and his qualities. There is says:
“This is one token of his daring: when the Æsir enticed Fenris-Wolf to take upon him the fetter Gleipnir, the wolf did not believe them, that they would loose him, until they laid Týr’s hand into his mouth as a pledge.” [1a]
Gylfaginning, XXV (25th) chapter.
Gleipnir is mentioned here only in passing, as the fetter involved in Týr’s sacrifice of his hand. It is not until chapter 34, when the story of the binding of Fenrir is told, that Gleipnir is mentioned again.
“Then Allfather sent him who is called Skírnir, Freyr’s messenger, down into the region of the Black Elves, to certain dwarves, and caused to be made the fetter named Gleipnir. It was made of six things…” [1b]
Gylfaginning, 34th chapter.
and later Gleipnir is mentioned as the silk-ribbon and merely as the ribbon:
“Then the Æsir went out upon the lake called Ámsvartnir…they showed him the silken ribbon and bade him burst it, saying that it was somewhat stouter than appeared from its thickness…” [1c]
Gylfaginning, 34th chapter.
After Fenrir has been bound with Gleipnir, it is mentioned as “the fetter”.
“But when the Wolf lashed out, the fetter became hardened; and the more he struggled against it, the tighter the band was.” [1d]
Gylfaginning, 34th chapter.
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References
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