QUESTIONING LOKI, Part One

[icymist]

ASK A NORSE MYTHOLOGIST #2

Last year, I began a new feature at The Norse Mythology Blog called "Ask a Norse Mythologist." Everyone is welcome to submit questions about Norse mythology and Norse religion through the online form. I've received messages asking about Loki from all over the USA, Canada, Turkey and the United Kingdom. I’m very glad that people of such different ages and backgrounds are curious to learn more about the Norse myths. I hope that my Loki answers will be helpful to others, or at least lead them to do further reading and research on their own.

Richard Windsor (Beloit, Wisconsin, USA) asks:

“Is Loki the god of mischief or the god of fire?”

Neither, really. Loki is not referred to by either of these titles in the source texts of Norse mythology. Rudolf Simek calls him “a god without a function,” and all the major scholars of Norse mythology and religion agree that Loki was never actually worshiped in ancient times.

http://www.norsemyth.org/2013/01/questioning-loki-part-one.html

[Knightraven]

1. I am happy to see the article sets the record strait about the relationship between Lord Loki &

Lord Odin.

The myths tell us that Loki is the blood-brother of Odin. They swore allegiance, which implies that they are at least somewhat on equal terms and that they may have started as enemies on either side of the god/giant divide.

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

2. Thanks for posting this, I had completely forgotten about the site

I'm also going to send this to my father, he always seems to ask about Loki (It could be because I used to ask if my little sister was Loki in disguise so as to harass me. That would make him laugh but usually pissed off my mom ).


Personally I have always seen Loki as an aspect of chaos and chance. He is that aspect that can't be figured into plans for he can show up and help or hinder and you don't know which he is doing until afterward.