How did Loki become a god?
One question that many people have about Loki concerns how he became a god. Loki became a god because his maternal lineage, which is the subject of debate, may have made him a god from birth.
Is Loki good or evil?
Was Loki a Good God or an Evil God? Loki was not a good or evil god. Many Norse texts reveal that he participated in many evil and good acts. Some of his recorded acts suggest that he can be good or evil for selfish reasons. A common theme of Norse myths about Loki is that he often has malicious intentions and can also help solve the problems he helped create.
Is Loki a Greek god or Norse?
Loki the Greek mythology Norse god of mischief and tricksters. The intertwining snakes on a staff is one of the symbols of Loki. God of Chaos. All the activi...
How evil is Loki?
Loki is not truly evil. Loki is not evil, Because of many reasons. Firstly, All he ever wanted was to please his adopted father, Odin. He was jealous of his brother Thor, The irresponsible crown prince of Asgard. He thought he was better suited to the throne, And tried to take it from his brother, The rightful heir.
What religion is Loki a god from?
Definition. Loki is a god in Norse mythology who is often simply described as the 'trickster' god for his love of playing pranks on both his fellow gods and his or their opponents.
What kind of mythology is Loki?
Loki is trickster god causes lots mischief in Norse mythology. He is one of the most well-known gods of Norse mythology. He is at least half-giant; but some report him as being a full-grown giant.
How did Loki become a god?
Loki became a god because his maternal lineage, which is the subject of debate, may have made him a god from birth. Other theories suggest that his friendship or brotherhood with Odin — in addition to his powers (both natural and learned from Frigga) — may have earned him his status as a god.
Who has Loki slept with?
Loki also reproduced with his mistress, Angrboda, a jötunn (possibly a troll) who gave birth to three children: Hel, who ruled the eponymous underworld called Hel, Jörmungandr, the sea serpent of Midgard and arch-nemesis of Thor, and Fenrir, the massive wolf fated to slay Odin during Ragnarök.
Who is the Greek god equivalent of Loki?
Loki is similar to Poseidon because he is the cause of earthquakes, and he is similar to Hermes as they are both tricksters of the gods.
Is Loki LGBT?
Loki made his debut in the MCU way back in 2011 and has been a mainstay in the universe for a decade, and yet fans are only finding out now that he is bisexual. Loki is not the first queer character in the MCU and he won't be the last. Marvel has plans to introduce a gay superhero in a film this year.
Who is Loki's wife?
SigynLoki is married to Sigyn and they have two sons, Narfi and Nari or Váli. By the jötunn Angrboða, Loki is the father of Hel, the wolf Fenrir, and the world serpent Jörmungandr.
Who kills Loki in Ragnarok?
HeimdallLoki and Heimdall kill each other The rivalry comes to a head in Ragnarok when Heimdall kills Loki. Loki manages to kill Heimdall right back, a lot of mutual killing goes on at Ragnarok. Still, that's one fight I would love to see, whether in seal or in human form.
Is Loki Greek mythology?
Loki is a god in Norse mythology. According to some sources, Loki is the son of Fárbauti (a jötunn) and Laufey (mentioned as a goddess), and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr.
Is Loki a god in Greek mythology?
His father was the giant Farbauti and his mother was Laufey. In most cases Loki helped the other gods with his clever plans but sometimes he behaved in a malicious manner towards them. Loki was bound to a rock as punishment just like Prometheus and Tantalus in Greek Mythology. Loki was also considered a god of fire.
Who is the trickster god in Greek mythology?
In Greek mythology, Prometheus is one of the Titans, the supreme trickster, and a god of fire. In common belief, he developed into a master craftsman, and in this connection, he was associated with fire and the creation of mortals.
What is the Norse god Loki?
Loki with a fishing net (per Reginsmál) as depicted on an 18th-century Icelandic manuscript (SÁM 66) Loki ( Old Norse: [ˈloke], Modern Icelandic: [ˈlɔːcɪ], often Anglicized as / ˈloʊki /) is a god in Norse mythology. According to some sources, Loki is the son of Fárbauti (a jötunn) ...
What is Loki's relationship with the gods?
Loki's relation with the gods varies by source; Loki sometimes assists the gods and sometimes behaves maliciously towards them. Loki is a shape shifter and in separate incidents appears in the form of a salmon, a mare, a fly, and possibly an elderly woman named Þökk (Old Norse 'thanks').
Why does Loki say that Freyja has not slept for eight nights?
Loki states that this is because "Freyja" had not slept for eight nights in her eagerness. The "wretched sister" of the jötnar appears, asks for a bridal gift from "Freyja", and the jötnar bring out Mjöllnir to "sanctify the bride", to lay it on her lap, and marry the two by "the hand" of the goddess Vár.
Why does Odin say Loki must be insane?
Odin says that Loki must be insane to make Gefjun his enemy, as her wisdom about the fates of men may equal Odin's own. Loki says that Odin does a poor job in handing out honor in war to men, and that he's often given victory to the faint-hearted.
Where did the name Loki come from?
Rather, the later Scandinavian variants of the name (such as Faroese Lokki, Danish Lokkemand, Norwegian Loke and Lokke, Swedish Luki and Luku, along with Finnish Lukki) point to an origin in the Germanic root * luk -, which denoted things to do with loops (like knots, hooks, closed-off rooms, and locks). This corresponds with usages such as the Faroese Lokkanet ('cobweb', literally 'Lokke's web') and Faroese lokki ~ grindalokki ~ grindalokkur (' daddy-long-legs ', associated in pre-modern folk-taxonomy with spiders). Some Eastern Swedish traditions referring to the same figure use forms in n - like Nokk (e), but this corresponds to the * luk - etymology insofar as those dialects consistently used a different root, Germanic * hnuk -, in contexts where western varieties used * luk -: " nokke corresponds to nøkkel " ('key' in Eastern Scandinavian) "as loki ~ lokke to lykil " ('key' in Western Scandinavian). While it has been suggested that this association with closing could point to Loki's apocalyptic role at Ragnarök, "there is quite a bit of evidence that Loki in premodern society was thought to be the causer of knots/tangles/loops, or himself a knot/tangle/loop. Hence, it is natural that Loki is the inventor of the fishnet, which consists of loops and knots, and that the word loki ( lokke, lokki, loke, luki) is a term for makers of cobwebs: spiders and the like." Though not prominent in the oldest sources, this identity as a "tangler" may be the etymological meaning of Loki's name.
Where does Loki meet Eldir?
Loki comes out of the woods, and meets Eldir outside of the hall. Loki greets Eldir (and the poem itself begins) with a demand that Eldir tell him what the gods are discussing over their ale inside the hall. Eldir responds that they discuss their "weapons and their prowess in war" and yet no one there has anything friendly to say about Loki. Loki says that he will go into the feast, and that, before the end of the feast, he will induce quarrelling among the gods, and "mix their mead with malice". Eldir responds that "if shouting and fighting you pour out on" to the gods, "they'll wipe it off on you". Loki then enters the hall, and everyone there falls silent upon noticing him.
What is Loki's role in Ragnarök?
While it has been suggested that this association with closing could point to Loki's apocalyptic role at Ragnarök, "there is quite a bit of evidence that Loki in premodern society was thought to be the causer of knots/ tangles/loops, or himself a knot/tangle/loop. Hence, it is natural that Loki is the inventor of the fishnet, which consists of loops and knots, and that the word loki ( lokke, lokki, loke, luki) is a term for makers of cobwebs: spiders and the like." Though not prominent in the oldest sources, this identity as a "tangler" may be the etymological meaning of Loki's name.
What is Loki in Norse mythology?
Loki. Loki (pronounced “LOAK-ee;” Old Norse Loki, the meaning of which will be discussed below) is the wily trickster god of Norse mythology. While treated as a nominal member of the gods, Loki occupies a highly ambivalent and ultimately unique position among the gods, giants, and the other kinds of spiritual beings that populate ...
What does Loki's name mean?
Most have simply thrown their hands up and declared the meaning of his name to be unknown and probably unknowable.
What does Loki do after Thiazi's death?
After Thiazi’s death, the giant’s daughter, Skadi, arrives in Asgard demanding restitution for the slaying of her father. One of her demands is that the gods make her laugh, something which only Loki is able to do. To accomplish this, he ties one end of a rope to the beard of a goat and the other end to his testicles. Both he and the goat squawk and squeal as one pulls one way and the other pulls the other way. Eventually he falls over in Skadi’s lap, and the giantess can’t help but laugh at such an absurd spectacle. Here, Loki once again comes to the aid of the gods, but simply by being silly and outlandish, not by accomplishing any feat that a Viking Age Scandinavian would have found to be particularly honorable.
Why does Loki complie with the request to save his life?
Loki complies in order to save his life, and then finds himself in the awkward position of having the gods threaten him with death unless he rescues Idun . He agrees to this request for the same base motive, shifting his shape into that of a falcon and carrying the goddess back to Asgard in his talons.
What is Loki's role in Baldur?
According to one Old Norse poem, he even captains the ship Naglfar, “Nail Ship,” which brings many of the giants to their battle with the gods. [5] . When the battle for the world is fought, he and the god Heimdall mortally wound each other. Loki is perhaps best known for his malevolent role in The Death of Baldur.
What is the name of the god that ties Loki's son to a rock?
For his many crimes against them, the gods eventually forge a chain from the entrails of Loki’s son Narfi and tie him down to three rocks inside a cave. A venomous serpent sits above him, dripping poison onto him. Loki’s apparently very faithful and loving wife, Sigyn, sits at his side with a bowl to catch the venom.
What does "loki" mean in Icelandic?
In fact, in later Icelandic usage, the common noun loki even means “knot” or “tangle.”. Spiders are sometimes referred to as loki in a metaphorical sense, as their webs are compared to the fish nets (which are made from a series of knots and loops) that Loki crafts in certain surviving Viking Age myths.
What did Loki do to help the gods?
The first time Loki helped the gods was when they were building Asgard. The gods had run out of funds and all they had built was a wall. Loki came up with the idea that a giant should finish the job for them. The gods agreed, as did the giant. But, the giant asked for the Sun, the Moon, and the goddess Freya as payment if he completed the job on time. The gods weren’t sure, but Loki assured them that the giant would never finish on time. The giant had a huge stallion called Svadilfari to help him, and the gods got nervous. Loki changed shape into a mare and seduced the giant’s horse. As a result of Loki’s trickery, the giant wasn’t able to finish on schedule and tried to kidnap Freya. Before the giant could, Thor cracked his skull with a hammer. However, Loki, as the female horse, got pregnant and gave birth to an eight-legged stallion named Sleipnir, which he gave to Odin.
Who is Loki's father?
Loki’s father was Fárbauti and his mother was Laufey. It is unknown whether his mother was a lesser known goddess or a giant, and his father definitely was a giant.
What does Heimdall tell Loki to do?
Heimdall tells Loki he’s drunk and to stop, but Loki insults Heimdall. Skadi tells Loki to watch it or he’ll be bound up, and Loki insults her. Sif, the wife of Thor, gives him mead in a golden goblet saying she is blameless and he can’t insult her. Loki claims she is his lover.
What happened to Loki during the feast?
During a great feast in Asgard, Loki wasn’t invited and was upset. He asked the guard what the gods were talking about, and the guard told him they were talking about war, weapons, and saying negative things about Loki. Loki burst in, and the gods became silent.
What necklace does Loki steal from Freya?
Loki steals Freya’s amber necklace, in which Heimdall fights him and retrieves it;
What powers did Loki have?
Powers & Duties. Loki had the power to shape-shift in Norse legends. In various stories, he turned into a salmon, mare, seal, fly, and elderly woman. He also used a combination of masterful trickery and cunning to achieve his objectives.
Why did Loki keep his mouth shut?
Loki typically cheated dwarves at any opportunity given to him. They finally were able to stitch his mouth shut to keep him quiet from insults;
What is Loki known for?
Loki is known for bringing about chaos and discord, but by challenging the gods, he also brings about change. Without Loki’s influence, the gods may become complacent, so Loki does actually serve a worthwhile purpose, much as Coyote does in the Native American tales, or Anansi the spider in West African lore.
Where is Loki from?
There is little archaeological reference to Loki (pronounced LOW-key), but in the small village of Kirkby Stephen, England, there is a tenth-century stone with a carving on it.
Why does Loki complie with the request to save his life?
Loki complies in order to save his life, and then finds himself in the awkward position of having the gods threaten him with death unless he rescues Idun . He agrees to this request for the same base motive, shifting his shape into that of a falcon and carrying the goddess back to Asgard in his talons.
Why is Loki the mother of Sleipnir?
Because he could take male or female form, at one point Loki turned himself into a mare and mated with a mighty stallion, so he actually was the mother of Odin’s magical eight-legged horse Sleipnir. Loki is known for bringing about chaos and discord, but by challenging the gods, he also brings about change.
Why did Loki get stuck milking cows?
At one point, Loki spent eight years disguised as a milkmaid, and got stuck milking cows because his disguise was so convincing. Loki is typically described as the husband of the goddess Sigyn, but he seems to have procreated with just about anyone and anything that struck his fancy.
What is Loki's role in Frigga?
Mythology. A shapeshifter who could appear as any animal, or as a person of either sex, Loki was constantly meddling in the affairs of others, mostly for his own amusement. Disguised as a woman, Loki fools Frigga into telling him about the weakness of her son Baldr.
What is Loki's trickery?
It’s important to remember that “trickster” does not mean someone who plays fun jokes and pranks–Loki’s trickery is all about mischief and mayhem. Although he doesn’t appear often in the Eddas, Loki is generally described as a member ...
What did Loki do?
Loki was also a man that liked to act of his own will, as seen in his attitude of betraying and helping Thor at different times. He does whatever suits him.
Why was Loki abandoned?
However, because Loki wasn’t full Frost Giant, he didn’t have an unusually large size as a baby. The Asgardian army took him for dead and abandoned him when they were plundering everything.
Is Loki a Trickster?
Loki’s character was also more inclined to a deceitful one, which can be attributed to a Frost Giant. His natural intelligence made it easy for him to manipulate almost anyone. Even the god of Thunder, Thor, fell victim to his antics multiple times.
What did Thor do to Loki?
Thor always out-shined Loki, which made him jealous and drove him to magic. He sought Frigga to teach him this lost art, and he got very good at it. In the Marvel movies, Loki was a master sorcerer.
Can Loki lift the hammer?
Before Odin placed an enchantment on Mjolnir, Loki would have been able to lift it. However, since Odin made the hammer to only respond to “worthy’ individuals, Loki could not lift it.
Who favored Thor over Loki?
Contrary to what Loki thought, Odin favored Thor over him. Loki wanted to win the heart of Odin and make him see that he was as good as Thor, but that didn’t go as planned.
Is Loki a Frost Giant in the Marvel Movies?
Loki is a Frost Giant (or “jotunn”) in the Marvel movies, although they don’t fully explore that part of his character. Some fans speculate that Marvel may develop this characteristic of Loki in future movies. Jotunn aren’t necessarily of enormous size:
What Is Loki the God Of?
Loki is mostly known as the god of mischief. However, there are some references that describe him as the god of Chaos or Temptation. Some people refer to him as a god of fire, but this is due to confusion with another similarly-named Norse god, Logi. Logi is the god of fire in Norse mythology.
What Powers Does Loki Have?
Contrary to some modern depictions, Loki’s main powers were shape-shifting, wit, and tricks. He rarely got involved in physical combat, which is why he didn’t carry weapons like other Norse gods that possessed similar stature.
What is the common theme of Norse myths about Loki?
A common theme of Norse myths about Loki is that he often has malicious intentions and can also help solve the problems he helped create. Let’s take a closer look at some examples of Loki’s acts.
What happened to Asgard when Loki destroyed it?
When Asgard was destroyed, a giant was commissioned to renovate the gods’ abode, but he made some dangerous demands as remuneration — including the goddess Freyja. Loki tricked the giant into missing the agreed deadline, which led to Freyja’s freedom.
What poem did Loki use to trick Thor?
It highlighted how Loki loved getting a reaction from others. Another poem, the Þórsdrápa, shows how he used this manipulative trait to trick Thor into fighting the giant Geirrǫðr.
What did Loki borrow from Freya?
Whenever Loki needed a magical weapon, he’d borrow it from other gods. For example, he borrowed Freya’s magical cloak once to turn into a falcon. He also helped other gods to borrow accouterments when necessary.
Did Loki have a relationship with Odin?
Most Norse texts agree that Loki had a relationship with Odin and that he was always in the presence of other gods, often helping them out of bad situations, some of which he may have created himself.
Who was Loki?
Loki in a god who had the ability to change his shape and sex. His father was the giant Farbauti and his mother was Laufey.
Who is Loki's father?
Loki in a god who had the ability to change his shape and sex. His father was the giant Farbauti and his mother was Laufey. In most cases Loki helped the other gods with his clever plans but sometimes he behaved in a malicious manner towards them.
Was Loki a god of fire?
Loki was bound to a rock as punishment just like Prometheus and Tantalus in Greek Mythology. Loki was also considered a god of fire. His wife was the giant Angerboda and his kids were Hel, the goddess of death; Jormungand, the serpent that surrounds the world; Fenrir, the wolf and Sleipnir, Odin ’s eight-legged horse.
Overview
Loki is a god in Norse mythology. According to some sources, Loki is the son of Fárbauti (a jötunn) and Laufey (mentioned as a goddess), and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. Loki is married to Sigyn and they have two sons, Narfi and Nari or Váli. By the jötunn Angrboða, Loki is the father of Hel, the wolf Fenrir, and the world serpent Jörmungandr. In the form of a mare, Loki was impregnated b…
Etymology and alternative names
The etymology of the name Loki has been extensively debated. The name has at times been associated with the Old Norse word logi ('flame'), but there seems not to be a sound linguistic basis for this. Rather, the later Scandinavian variants of the name (such as Faroese Lokki, Danish Lokkemand, Norwegian Loke and Lokke, Swedish Luki and Luku) point to an origin in the Germanic root *luk-, which denoted things to do with loops (like knots, hooks, closed-off rooms, …
Attestations
In the Poetic Edda, Loki appears (or is referenced) in the poems Völuspá, Lokasenna, Þrymskviða, Reginsmál, Baldrs draumar, and Hyndluljóð.
In stanza 35 of the Poetic Edda poem Völuspá, a völva tells Odin that, among many other things, she sees Sigyn sitting very unhappily with her bound husband, Loki, under a "grove of hot springs". In stanza 51, during the events of Ragnarök, …
Archaeological record
In 1950, a semi-circular flat stone featuring a depiction of a mustachioed face was discovered on a beach near Snaptun, Denmark. Made of soapstone that originated in Norway or Sweden, the depiction was carved around the year 1000 CE and features a face with scarred lips. The figure is identified as Loki due to his lips, considered a reference to a tale recorded in Skáldskaparmál where son…
Scandinavian folklore
The notion of Loki survived into the modern period in the folklore of Scandinavia. In Denmark, Loki appeared as Lokke. In Jutland, the phrases "Lokke slår sin havre" ("Lokke is reaping his oats") and "Lokkemand driver sine geder" ("Lokkemand drives his goats") are thereby recorded in the beginning of the 20th century, the latter with the variation of simply "Lokke". In Zealand the name "Lokke lejemand" ("Lokke the Playing Man") was used. In his study of Loki's appearance in Scand…
Origin and identification with other figures
Regarding scholarship on Loki, scholar Gabriel Turville-Petre comments (1964) that "more ink has been spilled on Loki than on any other figure in Norse myth. This, in itself, is enough to show how little scholars agree, and how far we are from understanding him."
Loki's origins and role in Norse mythology have been much debated by scholars. In 1835, Jacob Grimm was first to produce a major theory about Loki, in which he advanced the notion of Loki a…
Modern interpretations and legacy
In the 19th century, Loki was depicted in a variety of ways, some strongly at odds with others. According to Stefan Arvidssen, "the conception of Loki varied during the nineteenth century. Sometimes he was presented as a dark-haired Semitic fifth columnist among the Nordic Aesir, but sometimes he was described as a Nordic Prometheus, a heroic bearer of culture".
Loki appears in Richard Wagner's opera cycle Ring of the Nibelung as Loge (a play on Old Norse l…
See also
• Dystheism
Summary
Family
- His familial relations attest to this. His father is the giant Farbauti (Old Norse Fárbauti, Cruel Striker[1]). His mother is Laufey (the meaning of which is unknown) or Nal (Nál, Needle[2]). Laufey/Nal could be a goddess, a giantess, or something else entirely the surviving sources are silent on this point. Loki is the father, by the giantess Angrboda (Angrboða, Anguish-Boding), of …
Roles
- Loki often runs afoul not only of societal expectations, but also of what we might call the laws of nature. In addition to the progeny listed above, Loki is also the mother yes, the mother of Sleipnir, Odins shamanic horse, whom Loki gave birth to after shapeshifting into a mare and courting the stallion Svadilfari, as is recounted in the tale of The Fortification of Asgard.
Story
- In the tales, Loki is portrayed as a scheming coward who cares only for shallow pleasures and self-preservation. Hes by turns playful, malicious, and helpful, but hes always irreverent and nihilistic.
Example
- For example, in the tale of The Kidnapping of Idun, Loki, by his recklessness, ends up in the hands of a furious giant, Thiazi, who threatens to kill Loki unless he brings him the goddess Idun. Loki complies in order to save his life, and then finds himself in the awkward position of having the gods threaten him with death unless he rescues Idun. He agrees to this request for the same ba…
Fictional character biography
- Loki alternately helps both the gods and the giants, depending on which course of action is most pleasurable and advantageous to him at the time. During Ragnarok, when the gods and giants engage in their ultimate struggle and the cosmos is destroyed, Loki joins the battle on the side of the giants. According to one Old Norse poem, he even captains the ship Naglfar, Nail Ship, whic…
Synopsis
- For his many crimes against them, the gods eventually forge a chain from the entrails of Lokis son Narfi and tie him down to three rocks inside a cave. A venomous serpent sits above him, dripping poison onto him. Lokis apparently very faithful and loving wife, Sigyn, sits at his side with a bowl to catch the venom. But when the bowl becomes full, of course, she has to leave her husbands s…
Name
- For the centuries that Norse mythology has been a subject of scholarly study, scholars have been unable to explain the meaning of Lokis name in any convincing way. Most have simply thrown their hands up and declared the meaning of his name to be unknown and probably unknowable. Recently, however, the philologist Eldar Heide may have solved this puzzle. In his research into N…
Significance
- This proposed meaning of Lokis name powerfully resonates with his role in Norse mythology in two ways. First, it points to his role as a maker of nets, both literal fish nets and metaphorical nets in the form of his cunning schemes that trap the gods in perilous situations. Second, it could indicate his being the knot in the otherwise straight thread of the gods and their world, the fatal f…
Criticism
- Even though Loki is in some sense a god, no traces of any kind of worship of Loki have survived in the historical record.[10] Is this any wonder, given that his character is virtually the antithesis of traditional Norse values of honor, loyalty, and the like and that he is ultimately a traitor to the divinities the Norse held in such reverence?
Literature
- [2] Heide, Eldar. 2009. More Inroads to Pre-Christian Notions, After All? The Potential of Late Evidence. In Á austrvega: Saga and East Scandinavia: Preprint Papers of the 14th International Saga Conference. Edited by Agneta Ney et al. p. 363.
Sources
- [6] Saxo Grammaticus. 1905. The History of the Danes. Book VIII. [7] Turville-Petre, E.O.G. 1964. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. p. 138.