Loki << LOH kee >> was a god of Norse mythology who was known as a troublemaker and trickster. He was the son of a giant but lived among the gods, who were the enemies of the giants. Most stories of Loki portray him as evil, though some myths tell of occasions when he helped the gods. Loki has many adventures with Thor, the Norse god of thunder. Loki could change his shape at will, and he frequently would appear as an old woman or an animal.
The principal myth about Loki concerns his role in the murder of Balder, the handsome son of Odin, the chief god. Balder could be killed only by mistletoe, and so the gods made a sport of throwing things at him because he would not be hurt. One day, when the gods were amusing themselves in this way, Loki handed the blind god Hoder a sprig of mistletoe. Loki helped the unknowing Hoder aim the branch and throw it at Balder. The mistletoe pierced Balder’s body and killed him.
When the gods learned what Loki had done, they sentenced him to be chained across three rocks, with a snake dripping poison onto his face. His devoted wife, Sigyn, caught the drops of poison in a bowl. But each time the bowl filled up and she left to empty it, the venom struck Loki and made him twist in agony. According to the myths, Loki’s trembling is the cause of earthquakes.
According to legend, Loki will remain chained until the time of a battle called Ragnarok. He will then break free and join the giants in an attack on the gods. The world will be destroyed in this battle, and nearly all the gods and giants will die.
