Loki - God of Norse Mythology

Image of angry Loki, the Norse god of mischief, with furrowed brows and gritted teeth.
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Loki, the god of mischief, showing his fierce and wrathful side with a stern expression and gritted teeth.

Loki (pronounced: "lo-ke") is a prominent figure in Norse mythology, known for his cunning and mischievous nature. He is the son of the giants Farbauti and Laufey and has two brothers, Helblindi and Býleistr. In the Eddas, he is described as the "source of all fraud" and is known to have mixed freely with the gods, often causing trouble for them.

The name "Loki" in Old Norse runes is written as:

ᛚᚢᚴᛁ

Despite being a well-known character in Norse mythology, Loki is not considered a deity as he has no cult or followers. However, some neopagan groups worship him as a minor god. He is often associated with fire, but this is likely due to linguistic confusion with the word "logi," which means fire in Scandinavian languages.

Loki is a master of deception and shapeshifting, able to transform into various animals and objects. He is often portrayed as a trickster who causes chaos and annoyance for the other gods. However, he also occasionally helps them, such as when he cut off Sif's hair and then replaced it, or when he returned Iðunn and the apples of her youth after kidnapping her.

Loki's relationship with the other gods is complex. He was once considered Odin's blood brother until the murder of Baldr, after which the Æsir captured and tied him to three rocks. According to prophecy, Loki will free himself from his bonds to fight against the gods in Ragnarök.

In Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish, his name is Loke, pronounced "luque." The composer Richard Wagner introduced Loki under the Germanized name of Loge in his opera "Das Rheingold."

Overall, Loki is a fascinating and enigmatic figure in Norse mythology, known for his intelligence, trickery, and ability to cause chaos and annoyance for the other gods.


Please note that the information provided about Loki and Norse mythology is complex and may be subject to interpretation and debate. The myths and stories of Norse mythology have evolved and been passed down through oral tradition and written accounts, and there may be variations in the way they are told and understood. This information should be used as a general reference and not as a definitive source on the subject.


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Other Norse Gods and Goddesses


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