God Loki has been one of the most popular mythical creatures of Scandinavian mythology for many centuries. He was made the character of many books, music, movies and even computer games. However, the characteristics of this deity have many controversial interpretations among researchers and mythologists. Basic information about Loki is contained in such works as “Younger Edda” and “Elder Edda”, written by the Icelandic writer Snorri Sturluson in the XI century in the form of textbooks on skaldic poetry.
Essence and Origin
Loki is the Scandinavian god of fire, deception and cunning. Snorri also gave a description of the appearance of the deity: he is handsome, not tall, thin, and his hair has a fiery red color. Its distinctive features are a sharp mind, insidiousness, resourcefulness, cunning and duplicity, as well as the ability to change appearance. Thanks to these qualities, the aces allowed the yotun to live in Asgara. This god also has several other names: Lodur, Loft, and Hwedrung.
Regarding Loki's origin, it is believed that his father was Yotun Farbauti, and his mother was Lauvei (another name is Nal). Although, according to some other researchers, Loki existed even before Odin, because his father was the giant Ymir, the air of Kari and the water of Hller were brothers, and the goddess Ran was a sister. And only later did the god of fire and deception enter the triad of demiurges along with Odin and Henir. Despite the fact that the modern interpretation of Scandinavian mythology indicates in different sources that Thor and Loki are antipodes, the same Snorri Sturluson Odin is a twin of the god of deception, but at the same time its opposite. But the thunder god only periodically made up a company for the cunning deity in certain situations.
Characteristic
Mythology reveals a very versatile cunning deity. God Loki possessed many necessary qualities, for which the aces tolerated his antics and turned a blind eye to many things. In many situations, he rescued other gods, but in most of these cases they fell into remake precisely thanks to Loki, who saved his skin or saw any benefit. The cunning god helped either Ases or giants, and for a long time all of them were happy with this, especially since at the beginning of his appearance in Asgard, Loki was as good as possible for the god of deception, he helped the gods many times. Together with Odin, he participated in the creation of the world, along with other demiurges he breathed life into the wooden prototypes of people. He helped the gods obtain or return many treasures. However, later, becoming more angry and gaining a more demonic essence, the god Loki earned the hatred of the aces, whom he constantly quarreled with and became the embodiment of all troubles, up to Ragnarok. This deity became an analogue of Lucifer in Norse mythology.
Personal gain
In an adventure with Odin and Hernir described in Younger Edda, the god Loki hit Tiazzi, who turned into an eagle and tried to pick up the best pieces of food prepared by the aces, but stuck to the giant who carried him to his den. Tiazzi promised to release Loki in exchange for Idunn and her rejuvenating apples, and he, thanks to his cunning and treachery, led the goddess to the giant. But aces without apples began to age and forced Loki to return Idunn. Having turned into a falcon, the culprit was able to return the goddess to Asgard, and the other gods killed the eagle that arrived after her. This incident is the best possible demonstration that Loki for the most part committed any actions, only on the basis of his own gain or threat to his life.
Thor Adventures
But nevertheless, the treacherous god also had such acts that can be called disinterested. Only thanks to his intelligence, resourcefulness and cunning did the Thunderer God return his legendary hammer Mjellnir. Thor and Loki went to the lair of the Jotun Hold, who stole the legendary weapon, under the guise of his bride and her maid. The cunning man persuaded the giant to demonstrate the great hammer to his bride, and when Mjellnir showed the Hold, Thor managed to grab the hilt and defeat the kidnapper.
But these two gods also had adventures in which Loki set up his companion. In order to save his life, the nee aetun brought Thor directly into the lair of the giant Geyrrod, the thunderer could be saved only thanks to the good Grid.
Heritage
Like many deities of the most diverse pantheons, Loki also has a peculiar heritage. It is believed that initially he was not evil, being the spirit of life. Together with his wife, Glut (radiance), the god of fire Loki was considered a symbol of the hearth. From his first marriage, he had two children - Enmir and Aise. However, the further, the more Loki became embittered and demonized. The giantess Angrboda became his second wife, their secret marriage in the Iron Forest of Yotunheim was banned by Odin, who was even more angry when he learned about the birth of three monster children: the red-blue Hel, the creepy wolf Fenrir and the huge snake Yormunganda. One threw Hel to Niflheim, where she became the death goddess, Jörmunganda sent to the bottom of the sea, where he became the World Serpent, but Fenrir initially took him to Asgard, where he tried to put on a chain, but not one could keep the mighty wolf, and in the end he was cast into the underworld.
The god Loki also gave birth to the legendary eight-horse stallion Odin Sleipnir. Using his ability, he turned into a mare to distract the horse of Swadilfari, thanks to which the ajun-mason promised the Asam to build Asgard in record time, and the gods did not want to pay the bills. Loki's third and last wife was Shigun, who bore him two sons: Vali and Narvi (or Ali and Nari).
Wrath of the gods
At the feast at Aigir (the sea giant), the god Loki impartially exposed the aces in their shortcomings and confessed to the murder of Balder, the son of Odin. For the gods, this was the last straw. They grabbed the villain and both of his sons, turned Vali into a wolf that had torn his brother to pieces, and tied Loki to three stones with Narvi's guts, and hung a snake over his head, whose poison was supposed to drip onto the face of the guilty deity and bring him hellish torment. Shigun held a bowl in which she collected poison so that he would not get on her husband's face. But when it was full and it was necessary to empty it, drops fell on Loki's face, and the earth itself shook from his torment. And so on until Ragnarok, during which the god Loki fought against the aces.