Loki

Also known as: Loke / Lopt / Thok · Family: Æsir · Role: god · First appears: Elder Edda · The Vala's Prophecy · Part 2

In the Vala’s Prophecy, Loki is seen bound with Sigyn beside him, and the Vala foretells that he will steer the ship carrying Muspell’s people. In the Lay of Hymir, he causes one of Thor’s goats to become half-dead; in the Lay of Thrym, he accompanies Thor, disguised as a bride, to Thrym’s wedding feast. In Oegir’s Compotation, Loki slays Fimafeng, is chased into the forest, then returns to a seat and drink at the feast at Odin’s order. Afterward, the Æsir catch him in salmon form and bind him with his son Nari’s entrails; Skadi fastens a venomous serpent above his face, while Sigyn holds a basin beneath the venom.

In the Lay of Hyndla, Loki begets a wolf with Angerboda and Sleipnir with Svadilfari. In Regin’s account in the Second Lay of Sigurd Fafnicide, he kills Otter with a stone. The Fooling of Gylfe names his parents as Farbaute and Laufey, his brothers as Byleist and Helblinde, and his wife as Sigyn, with whom he has Nari. With Angerboda he has the Fenris-wolf, Jormungand and Hel, and in a later episode he bears Sleipner, a gray, eight-legged foal. He guides Hoder in the mistletoe shot that kills Balder, and is believed to have disguised himself as Thok to prevent Balder’s release. Thor catches him, and the gods bind him over three rocks with his son’s entrails.

In Brage’s Talk, Loki coaxes Idun out of Asgard, then, threatened with death or torture, borrows Freyja’s falcon-guise and brings Idun back from Thjasse. In Poetical Diction, Geirrod captures and starves him for three months before Loki swears to bring Thor to Geirrod without his hammer or strength belt. He also cuts off Sif’s hair, pledges to replace it with golden hair, and is seized by Thor; after the gods judge Brok the winner of their wager, Brok sews Loki’s mouth together. In the account of the Niflungs and Gjukungs, Loki kills Otter, takes Andvare’s gold and ring, and hears the dwarf curse the ring to bring death to its possessors.