Loki
Loki was the god of the hearth fire, the spirit of life, and lightning. Not to be confused with the horrible giant Utgard-Loki, the Loki of Asgard was a trickster, whose favor for the gods and personal amusement would waver continuously.
Loki was present in many Norse myths, and usually accompanied or
was doing a deed for Thor. The companionship of these two is no
mistake. Loki, who is a symbol of recreation, accompanies Thor,
who works hard and earnestly. Also, Loki was identified with
lightning, as Thor is identified with thunder. The Norse realized
that both of these (recreation and hard work)were needed for
mankind's welfare.
The giant god always does evil in an ever seductive form, and
this also is symbolic of how evil is always guised behind a vial
of beauty. In fact, the gods of Asgard were fooled by this, and
they welcomed Loki as one of themselves. His advice was the most
honored in the god's council. Sometimes, however, this was
unfortunate. This is because usually the plan that Loki has made
is carried out, only to further dismay of the gods.
Loki was in a number of the Norse myths, usually accompanying
Thor, who went questing for his hammer in Jotun-heim, became in
the confines of Utgard-Loki's castle, and who went to the giant
Geirrod's house. Loki was the prankster behind the stealing of
Freya's necklace, the cutting of Sif's golden hair, and the
betraying of Idun to Thiassi, the great eagle.
Loki had married the giantess Glut, whose bore him two daughters.
This matrimony and family made him patron god of the hearth fire,
and when a fire crackled the logs the Norse children would say
that Loki was beating his children. Loki also wedded with a
Jotun-heim giantess Angur-boda (the anguish-boding). This
marriage spawned the monsters Hel, goddess of death, Iormungandr,
the Midgard Serpent, and Fenris wolf. Loki's third and most loyal
wife was Sigyn, who bore him two sons; Narve and Vali.
Loki was the beacon of evil and the Norse did nought but fear
him. In this regard, no temples were devoted to him, no
sacrifices made in his name, and only the most nasty weeds were
dubbed with the name Loki. The god was forgiven for most all of
his crimes, but not death of Odin's prized son, Balder. The death
of the god of light, and Loki's influence in the failure of his
resurrection, proved to the Asgard gods that Loki was nothing but
pure evil. However, in a banquet hosted by god of the sea, Aegir,
Loki committed his last crime. Jealous of the praise given to
Aegir's servant, he turned upon him and slew him wantonly. After
this and a pursuit of the escaping mischief-maker, he was
condemned to the bowels of the earth, where a serpent's poison
dripped on him. His faithful wife Sigyn held a bowl to collect
the venom, and when she had to empty it the poison fell upon the
god, and he writhed in pain. This writhing is said to be producer
of earthquakes. He stayed like this until the twilight of the
gods, upon whence he broke free of his bonds. Upon freedom he
boarded the ship Nagilfar, built from nails of humans, with the
host of Muspells-heim. He steered this vessel to the field of
Vigrid, place of the Ragnarok. At Ragnarok Loki locked with the
god Heimdall, and both of the gods perished by the others
hand.
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