Meet Loki, the God of Mischief from Norse mythology
You must have watched the famous 2011 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie Thor, right? If the answer is yes, then you are familiar with Loki, played by famous British actor Tom Hiddleston in Thor and many other films as well as screen adaptations. Do you know that this character is based on the Norse mythological character Loki? Well, Loki is the Norse God of Mischief?
He is a clever conman, with the power to alter his gender and appearance. What makes him mischievous? Loki chooses between assisting the giants and the gods, depending on which move is more enjoyable and advantageous to him at that moment. Funny, isn’t it? Come, let us delve deeper into the world of this naughty Norse god.
Loki in Norse Mythology
According to the Norse mythology, this trickster is the son of goddess Laufey and his father is the giant Farbauti mentioned in the Norse mythology. With a female giant named Angerboda, Loki has fathered Hel, the goddess of death, Jörmungand, a serpent and Fenrir, a wolf. He also has another son too, with his wife, Sigyn, goddess of loyalty and compassion. He is named Nari or Narfi, meaning Corpse. Quite a story, isn’t it? Wait, there’s more. Loki is a mother too, the mother of Sleipnir, the shamanic horse of Odin, the Norse God of War!
Loki and The Death of God Baldur’
Loki is possibly most famous for his evil role in The Death of Baldur, son of Odin, one of the most famous events in Norse mythology. Once the death of Baldur is predicted, Baldur's mother, Frigg, the Goddess of Love, obtains a promise from every living creature not to harm her son. Well, almost everyone! The mistletoe (a parasitic plant), which the gods consider too small and safe to harm Baldur, does not provide such an oath. When Loki notices this omission, he carves a mistletoe spear and gives it to the blind god Hod, telling him to fling it at Baldur. Unaware of the weapon's history, Hod complies, and Baldur is killed. But this is not the end. There is more.
Baldur's brother, the deity Hermod, rides to underworld and begs Hel, the ruler of the underworld, to let Baldur go. Hel replies that if every creature in the world weeps for Baldur, the dead god will be released. All living things do indeed cry for Baldur's return. Guess who did not? The only exception was a giantess by the name of Tokk, who is, as you correctly guessed, Loki in disguise. As a result, Baldur had to remain with Hel.
Loki's dreadful punishment
For his numerous crimes against them, the gods finally forged a chain from Loki's son Narfi's intestines and tied him to three rocks within a cave. A poisonous serpent sat, dripping poison above him! Yet his loyal wife, Sigyn, remained by his side, holding a bowl to catch the poison. But once the bowl was full, she went to empty the bowl. When this happened, a poison drop fell over him, making him scream in pain, and these tremours induce earthquakes. Loki lied in this state till Ragnarök (doom of gods) broke him free.