Here are some facts about Loki.
- Loki is one of the most important gods in Norse mythology. He is able to change his appearance and has been a fish, a horse, a fly and even an old lady.
- He is the Norse god of fire and is also known for playing pranks and tricks. Some stories and poems describe him as being a devil or demon.
- One of the earliest references to him is in a 13th century collection of Norse poems known as the Poetic Edda. The poems were passed down from generation to generation.
- His father was a giant and his mother may have been a giantess. He had several children, including Jormungand, a giant snake living in the sea surrounding the known world.
- Loki asked a giant to help build Asgard, one of the nine worlds of the gods. The giant asked for the sun and moon if he completed the work on time.
- However, Loki made sure that the giant did not finish the work on time. He led the giant’s horse away, without which the giant could not finish the work.
- Loki is known for his part in the death of Baldur, the son of Odin. He killed him with a spear made from mistletoe, thrown at Baldur by the blind god, Hod.
- The gods became tired of Loki’s jokes and mischievous behavior. They chained him to a rock where a poisonous serpent dripped venom onto him, his shouts of pain supposedly caused earthquakes.
- The face of Loki was said to have appeared on a 1,000 year old stone found in Denmark in 1950. He can also be seen on part of a 10th century stone cross in St. Stephen’s Church in Cumbria.
- Loki appears as a villain in Marvel comics, fighting Thor. He appears in several films, including the 2011 film Thor, and he is also in Wagner’s famous operas, the Ring Cycle.
What next? Visit our Vikings resources page to learn more facts about the Vikings and their beliefs.
