God Loki: the image of Scandinavian mythology

Loki's God is one of the most popular mythical creatures of Scandinavian mythology for many centuries. He was made the character of many books, music, movies and even computer games. At the same time, the characterization of this deity has many controversial interpretations among researchers and mythologists. The basic data about Loki are contained in such works as "Younger Edda" and "Elder Edda", written by the Icelandic writer Snorri Sturluson in the 11th century as textbooks on skaldic poetry.

Essence and origin

Loki is the Scandinavian god of fire, deception and cunning. Snorri also gave a description of the exterior of the deity: he is handsome, short, thin, and his hair has a fiery reddish color. His distinctive features are a sharp mind, cunning, resourcefulness, cunning and duplicity, as well as the ability to change the appearance. Due to these qualities the aces allowed the bride to live in Asgara. This god also has several other names: Lodur, Loft and Hwedrung.

Concerning the origin of Loki, it is believed that his father was the mother of Farbauti, and mother - Lauvei (another name is Nahl). Although, according to some other researchers, Loki existed before Odin, because his father was the giant Ymir, the air of Kari and the water of Hler - brothers, and the goddess Ran - sister. And only later the god of fire and deceit entered the triad of the demiurge, together with Odin and Henir. Despite the fact that in modern interpretation of Scandinavian mythology, in different sources it is indicated that Thor and Loki are antipodes, in the same Snorri Sturluson One is a twinning god of deception, but at the same time his opposite. But the god-thunderer only occasionally made a cunning deity company in those or other situations.

Characteristic

A very versatile and clever deity reveals mythology. God Loki possessed many necessary qualities, for which the aces tolerated his antics and shut their eyes to many things. In many situations, he rescued other gods, but in most of these cases they were in trouble because of Loki, who saved his skin or saw any benefit. The insidious god helped the aces, the giants and for a long time all of them were happy with this, especially since at the beginning of his appearance in Asgard Loki was good, as far as possible for the deceitful God, he helped the gods many times. Together with Odin, he participated in the creation of the world, along with other demiurgeons, breathed life into the wooden prototypes of people. He helped the gods get or return a multitude of treasures. However, later, becoming more evil and finding a more demonic entity, the god Loki deserved the hatred of the Aces, who constantly quarreled among themselves and became the embodiment of all ills, up to Ragnarok. This deity became the analogue of Lucifer in Scandinavian mythology.

Personal benefit

In an adventure with Odin and Hernir, described in The Younger Edda, Loki's god struck Tiazzi, who turned into an eagle and tried to take the best pieces of food prepared by the asami, but stuck to the giant who had carried him to his lair. Tiazzi promised to release Loki in exchange for Idunn and her juvenile apples, and he, thanks to his cunning and cunning, led the goddess to the giant. But the aces without apples began to grow old and made Loki return Idunn. Turning the falcon, the culprit was able to return the goddess to Asgard, and Titania-eagle who flew after her killed other gods. This case perfectly demonstrates that Loki for the most part did any deed, only on the basis of his own benefit or the threat of his life.

Adventures with Thor

But nevertheless there were at the insidious god and such actions which can be named disinterested. Only thanks to his intelligence, resourcefulness and cunning God-thunderer was able to return his legendary hammer Mjellnir. Thor and Loki went to the den of the Yotun Trum, who had stolen the legendary weapon, disguised as his bride and her maid. The cunning man persuaded the giant to show his bride a great hammer, and when Trum showed Mjellnir, Thor managed to snatch the hilt and defeat the kidnapper.

But these two gods also had adventures in which Loki substituted his companion. In order to save his life, the born туtun brought Tor directly into the lair of the giant Geirrod, the Thunderer could only be saved by the good Grid.

Heritage

Like many deities of various pantheons, Loki also has a peculiar heritage. It is believed that initially he was not evil, being the spirit of life. Together with his wife Gluth (radiance), the god of fire Loki was considered a symbol of the home. From his first marriage he had two children, Enmir and Aisa. However, the further, the more Loki became angry and demonized. His second wife was the giantess Angrbod, their secret marriage in the Iron Forest of Yotunheim was banned by Odin, who was even more angry when he learned of the birth of three monster children: the red-blue Hel, the terrible Fenrir wolf and the huge snake Yormungand. One threw Hel in Niflheim, where she became the goddess of death, Yormunganda sent to the bottom of the sea, where he became the World Serpent, but Fenrir originally took him to Asgard, where he tried to put on a chain, but none could hold a mighty wolf, and in the end He was thrown into the underworld.

Loki's God also spawned the legendary eight-legged stallion Odin Sleipnir. Using his ability, he turned a mare to distract the horse of Swadilfari, thanks to which the Yotun mason promised the aces to build Asgard in record time, and the gods did not want to pay him the bills. Loki's third and last wife was Sigyun, who gave birth to two sons: Vali and Narvi (or Ali and Nari).

Wrath of the gods

At the feast at Aegir (the sea giant), the god Loki unpleasantly denounced the ases in their shortcomings and confessed to the murder of Baldur, Odin's son. For the gods, it was the last drop. They grabbed the villain and his two sons, turned Vali into a wolf who had torn his brother, and Narquee's guts tied Loki to three stones, and a snake was hanged over his head, the poison of which was supposed to drip onto the face of the deceased deity and bring him infernal torments. Sigyun held the cup, which collected poison, so that he did not hit the man's face. But when it overflowed and it was necessary to empty it, the drops fell on Loki's face, and the earth itself was shaken by his torment. And so to the very Ragnarok, during which the god Loki fought against the Aces.