𝔏𝔬𝔨𝔦

The trickster god with the power to shapeshift, Loki was the son of frost giants, adopted by Odin. Loki is never presented as purely evil, but rather as chaotic and cruel and having little consideration for the consequences of his actions. Supremely clever, he often creates complicated problems, to which he presents the solution, which always brings more trouble.

Loki is variously represented as the Norse god Thor's comrade or nemesis in the different surviving myths. Nevertheless, it was foretold that Loki would be responsible for the deaths of many of the Norse gods during Ragnarok – the end of the world. Loki was a shapeshifter, which made him both the father and mother of many children. With his giantess mistress Angroboda he had three children, the giant wolf Fenrir, the Midgard Serpent Jormungand, and Hel, the Norse goddess of the underworld.

With his wife Sigyn he had a son Narfi, who was killed by his half brother by an unknown mother, Vali. Loki was also the mother of Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged steed. He conceived Sleipnir when he shapeshifted into the form of a mare to mate with the stallion Svathlifari. Loki's many children add further complications to the Norse god family tree.

In punishment for his role in the death of Balder (see above), Loki was chained to three large boulders and a poisonous snake placed above his head.

The dripping venom from the snake was caught in a bowl by Loki's wife Sigyn, but when the bowl filled and she needed to leave to empty it, the poison dripping on Loki's face made him twist in agony, causing earthquakes.