Loki – The Mischievous Norse God

The mischievous god Loki is a key figure in Norse mythology. He is a shape-shifter and the master of trickery and deceit. He is both a friend and a foe of the other gods in the pantheon, frequently causing chaos while also aiding them in their quests.

The most comprehensive picture we have of Loki comes from the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, which are our main sources for Norse mythology, though they were written at a time when Christianity had begun to make its way into Iceland. He also appears in a few early rune poems and some of the skaldic poetry of the Viking Age.

His name is derived from the Germanic root for fire, and he was sometimes depicted as a flame-bearer. He was also a shape-shifter who could assume the form of any animal at will. He had two sons, Nari and Vali, by his wife Sigyn.

Loki is a trickster and a father of monsters. His offspring include the world-encircling serpent Jormungand, the wolf Fenrir who will swallow Odin at Ragnarok, and Hel, a goddess of death and the underworld in Niflheim.

The tales surrounding Loki are often violent and disturbing. He is not without a sense of humor, however. He is also known for playing pranks on the other gods. At one point, he changed himself into a mare in order to distract a stallion in the process of marrying Odin’s lover Frigg.