The most notorious god in Norse mythology, Loki is also regarded as one of the most cunning deities in all of the ancient religions. Although Loki is recognized as Odin’s brother and Thor’s uncle, he was a half-giant or a full-giant who was tricked into becoming a god. So yes, in today’s article we examine the trickster deity Loki, his children and associated Norse mythology symbols.
Ok, So Who Is This Loki Chap?
Have you been living under a rock while Marvel made Loki more popular than he ever was in the history of his true ancient nordic believers?
The trickster god Loki is perhaps one of the most well-known figures in Norse mythology. Loki was revered by the ancient Norse as the god of mischief and trickery. He is almost entirely responsible for the death and rebirth of the world known as Ragnarok (you must have seen the movie by now, right? RIGHT?). The fact that he is so popular probably speaks to the darker side of our humanity. Or perhaps it’s just our frequent need for novelty seeking? I’m not sure, but I think some later research on the psychology of our common interest in misbehaving Gods warrants a blog post. What do you think?
Anyways, apparently Loki was also in charge of events like the development of the legendary hammer Mjolnir and the birth of other monsters and norse deities. Though acknowledged as a god, Loki was not thought of as a type of Jotunn or Gigantic (as seen in The Ritual on Netflix), but rather as a type of the Aesir, the ruling class in Norse mythology.
Ok, so the Norse had this trickster God named Loki. He was cunning, obstinate, and eager to do dishonorable things to advance his station in the hierarchical structure of Asgardian society. The Lokasenna is ultimately all about Loki and how he finally destroyed himself with the other Gods.
Want the short version of the Loki death lore? Ok, so Loki was apparently bound to a rock using the intestines of his youngest son Narvi as the binds (hate to spoil the conclusion, and hate to remind fellow Lokeans of the finish. And… OUCH! I mean OUCH! Seriously, these Norse folks were really into their physical pain as spiritual transcendence metaphors). Then, while his devoted wife Sigyn stands on his side to catch the droplets in her bowl, he uses a snake to drip poison onto his face.
Loki frequently employs cleverness to get the easier out of trouble; nevertheless, other times, he is the root of their problems.
The major distinction between the Loki of Norse myth and the Loki of Marvel comics and movies is that in the Marvel universe, Loki is portrayed as the adoptive brother and son of Thor and Odin. In Norse mythology, Loki is just depicted as Odin and Thor’s Aesir gods’ buddy.
Loki was a significantly later addition to Norse mythology than most, despite being a widely known figure. In the earliest writings of Norse mythology, some historians have hypothesized that Loki was a different deity who was subsequently included in the main Norse religion, while others have proposed that Loki may have been a different facet or disguise for Odin. This comes from the fact that Loki is frequently referred to as Odin’s “blood brother.” In the context of the stories, it is unclear exactly what this signifies, although some have theorized that the two were originally one deity who eventually drifted into two different identities while yet maintaining a unique bond.
Also, why do God’s have blood? Is it red? Does that mean they breathe oxygen on Asgard? This raises soooo many questions in my mind. Am I the only one?
As an aside, did you know that the Greek had their own trickster God called Hermes?
Who are Loki’s Children And Who on Asgard Procreated With This Handsome Trickster?
The giantess Angrboda, often known as “She who Brings Anguish,” (reminiscent of my ex girlfriend) and Loki, the most complex figure in Norse mythology, produced three infamous offspring. The Jormungand Midgard Serpent was his first child; Hel, the Queen of Helheim, was his second daughter; and Wolf Fenrir, the God of Destruction, was his youngest child.
Jormungandr
The Midgard Serpent was yet another name for Jormungandr. Odin the Allfather sent him into the ocean’s depths as a defense against Ragnarok. Jormungandr, who rapidly became big enough to encompass all of Midgard, was lying deep beneath the ocean. Jormungandr sucked on his tail. He was Thor’s sworn nemesis. Before the time of Ragnarok, these two (Jormungandr and Thor) had already crossed paths.
Hel
Hel, the third child of Loki and Angboda, may appear less horrifying, but she is undoubtedly evil.
A giantess, half of whose body was reported to have been a lovely lady and the other half a corpse. She would make a good ruler over the land of the dead, where Vikings who did not succumb valiantly in combat went, according to Odin. As a result, she was given control over this world, which took her name, Helheim. Until Ragnarok, Hel waits there, zealously protecting the souls of her domain.
Fenrir
The powerful wolf Fenrir, the first kid Loki had with the giantess, was so big and powerful that no shackles could restrain him. They planned to mislead Fenrir since he was too powerful for any of them to subdue. They took advantage of his ego and persuaded him to place the chains on himself to liberate himself and demonstrate his power.
Intelligent and wary when the gods urged him to allow himself to be bound by the ribbon. But does the ribbon hold him? Hint: Fenrir later plays a massively instrumental role with Odin and the fall of Asgard
What Are The Loki Norse Mythology Symbols?
These are the norse deity signs most often associated with Loki:
- The snake: As it sheds its skin, the snake represents metamorphosis. Furthermore, according to Norse mythology, the enormous sea snake Jormungand is a near relative of the god Loki because the latter fathered him with the enormous Angrboa.
- The spider is a representation of weaving a web, much as the one Loki spun out of lies and deceptions. The tale of Loki, who weaves a fishing net like a spider’s web, reveals that he shares with the spider a creative role as well as a malevolent one.
- The flame: A representation of his destructive power and the searing flame that could be seen in his eyes during the height of his fury.
This wraps our post about Loki’s, his associated Norse Mythology Symbols and his abominations / children. One of the most well-known gods in Norse mythology, Loki is renowned for his cunning and the numerous disruptions he brought about to fellow Gods and Asgard. Even while he seems innocent, playful and even funny at times, it is his actions that ultimately lead to Ragnarok and the end of the universe.
So really, quite a very accomplished guy. I mean, his resume has, “Destroyed the Universe” on it. Even that other evil dude Thanos didn’t achieve that much.
If you’d like to read more about Norse Viking symbols and their meanings, checkout our extensive article (click on the cool symbols below to take you straight there).
