Gleipnir, the Binding of Fenrir

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Gleipnir, the Binding of Fenrir

Gleipnir is the fetter that holds the wolf Fenrir until Ragnarok. Dwarves made it soft as a silk ribbon from six impossible things, such as the sound of a cat's footfall, and it is stronger than any chain.

What is Gleipnir?

Gleipnir is the fetter that holds the great wolf Fenrir until Ragnarok. When two iron chains had snapped like thread, the gods sent to the dwarfs of Svartalfheim, who wove a bond as smooth and soft as a silken ribbon, yet stronger than anything in the world.

The six impossible things

It was made of six impossible things — the sound of a cat's footfall, the beard of a woman, the roots of a mountain, the sinews of a bear, the breath of a fish and the spittle of a bird — and because they went into its making, none of them can be found in the world today. To bind the wolf with it cost the god Tyr his right hand.

It binds Fenrir, at the cost of Tyr's hand.

Questions

What is Gleipnir made of?

The sound of a cat's footfall, a woman's beard, a mountain's roots, a bear's sinews, a fish's breath and a bird's spittle.

Who made Gleipnir?

The dwarves of Svartalfheim.

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