Post by Brad-LaSpirits on Sept 30, 2007 14:08:43 GMT -5
Loki, the son of 2 giants, was the trickster god in Norse mythology who was always doing his best to cause trouble. His wife was Sigyn, who bore him 2 sons, Vali and Nari (or Narvi), though he had an affair with the giantess, Angrboda, who bore him Fenrir, Hel, and Jormungand.
The Theft of Idun's Apples
In one story, Loki aids in the theft of Idun's Apples, which insure that the gods don't age. One day, Odin, Loki, and Honir crossed into Midgard for the day but had not brought any food with them. Loki decided to hunt and kill an ox, but when they tried to cook the meat, it remained raw. An eagle from above told them if they let him eat his fill, the meat would cook and they would be able to eat it. They agreed, but Loki was very hungry and soon grew impatient. He rammed his staff into the bird's body, so that the bird dropped the meat, but Loki was unable to let go of his staff. The eagle took off and flew just close enough to the ground to drag Loki across Midgard's floor, and only stopped when Loki agreed to bring Idun and her apples out of Asgard. Loki realized that the eagle was a giant in disguise, and agreed to the task.
Loki found Idun and convinced her that he had found a tree that grew apples similar to hers just outside of Bifrost. She followed him out of Asgard, only to find the giant Thiazi in the form of an eagle, who promptly carried her and her apples away. When Idun didn't arrive to give the gods her apples, they became anxious and began to grow old. They, however, did realize that Loki was missing from their company, and suspected that he was somehow responsible for this fate. Odin summoned Loki, who explained how the eagle would not let him go unless he agreed to bring Idun out of Asgard. Odin then threatened that if Loki did not help return Idun, they would kill him.
Loki agreed to Odin's request if Freyja would lend him her falcon skin. She gave it to him, and he flew to Thiazi's home in Thrymheim, where he discovered Idun. He then changed Idun into a nut and carried her off. Meanwhile, Thiazi, who had been on a fishing trip with his daughter, Skadi, came home to find Idun missing. He knew someone must have helped her escape, so he began flying and soon caught up with Loki as he drew closer to Asgard. Odin was watching all of this and told the gods to take all the fire wood shavings they could fire out of Asgard and pile it as high as they could. After Loki had successfully past over Asgard's wall, they lit the shavings. Thiazi could not stop himself, flew into the fire, and dropped to the ground in torment, where the gods quickly killed him. Loki then changed Idun back and she offered the gods her apples.
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The Treasures of the Gods
Another of Loki's pranks was to cut off Thor's wife, Sif's hair while she was sleeping and left it in a pile on her bedroom floor. When she awoke and realized what had happened, she immediately knew only Loki could have done it. To make up for it, Loki promised to replace her hair with help from the dwarfs. Thor threatened that he had better or he would smash every bone in Loki's body.
Loki made his way to the land of the dark elves and sought out the sons of Ivaldi. He explained that he needed them to spin gold as fine as Sif's hair and imbue it with magic so that it would grow on her head. In return, he promised them the thanks of Sif and Thor, and all the friendship of the gods. The dwarfs agreed to the bargain, and created the hair. They then decided that it would be foolish to waste the fire, so they created a ship for Freyr called Skidbladnir that could be dismantled until they were no larger than a piece of cloth, and a spear for Odin called Gungnir that would never miss its mark. Loki thanked them and made his way back.
On his way, he had an idea to visit the dwarf brothers Brokk and Eitri. He showed them his treasures and challenged them to make something of finer craftsmanship. He told them he would stake his head on it. The dwarf brothers were eager to take up the challenge. They created a boar with bristles of gold for Freyr called Gullinbursti that could outrun any horse and was always surrounded by a brilliant light, an arm-ring of solid gold for Odin called Draupnir that would drop 8 rings of its own weight on every 9th night, and an iron hammer for Thor called Mjollnir that could never be broken and would always return when thrown.
Brokk then accompanied Loki to Asgard to have the gifts judged by the gods. Odin, Thor, and Freyr were quick to agree that Mjollnir was the most valuable because it alone could guard the gods against the giants. Brokk then attempted to claim Loki's head. Loki retorted that he had promised his head, but not any part of his neck. Brokk replied that in that case, he could at least sew Loki's lips together to stop his 'sweet talk.'
Brokk ended up using his brothers awl because his own knife was not sharp enough to pierce Loki's lips. Once completed, Loki ran out of Gladsheim and ripped the leather thong out of his lips.
The Theft of Idun's Apples
In one story, Loki aids in the theft of Idun's Apples, which insure that the gods don't age. One day, Odin, Loki, and Honir crossed into Midgard for the day but had not brought any food with them. Loki decided to hunt and kill an ox, but when they tried to cook the meat, it remained raw. An eagle from above told them if they let him eat his fill, the meat would cook and they would be able to eat it. They agreed, but Loki was very hungry and soon grew impatient. He rammed his staff into the bird's body, so that the bird dropped the meat, but Loki was unable to let go of his staff. The eagle took off and flew just close enough to the ground to drag Loki across Midgard's floor, and only stopped when Loki agreed to bring Idun and her apples out of Asgard. Loki realized that the eagle was a giant in disguise, and agreed to the task.
Loki found Idun and convinced her that he had found a tree that grew apples similar to hers just outside of Bifrost. She followed him out of Asgard, only to find the giant Thiazi in the form of an eagle, who promptly carried her and her apples away. When Idun didn't arrive to give the gods her apples, they became anxious and began to grow old. They, however, did realize that Loki was missing from their company, and suspected that he was somehow responsible for this fate. Odin summoned Loki, who explained how the eagle would not let him go unless he agreed to bring Idun out of Asgard. Odin then threatened that if Loki did not help return Idun, they would kill him.
Loki agreed to Odin's request if Freyja would lend him her falcon skin. She gave it to him, and he flew to Thiazi's home in Thrymheim, where he discovered Idun. He then changed Idun into a nut and carried her off. Meanwhile, Thiazi, who had been on a fishing trip with his daughter, Skadi, came home to find Idun missing. He knew someone must have helped her escape, so he began flying and soon caught up with Loki as he drew closer to Asgard. Odin was watching all of this and told the gods to take all the fire wood shavings they could fire out of Asgard and pile it as high as they could. After Loki had successfully past over Asgard's wall, they lit the shavings. Thiazi could not stop himself, flew into the fire, and dropped to the ground in torment, where the gods quickly killed him. Loki then changed Idun back and she offered the gods her apples.
[back to top]
The Treasures of the Gods
Another of Loki's pranks was to cut off Thor's wife, Sif's hair while she was sleeping and left it in a pile on her bedroom floor. When she awoke and realized what had happened, she immediately knew only Loki could have done it. To make up for it, Loki promised to replace her hair with help from the dwarfs. Thor threatened that he had better or he would smash every bone in Loki's body.
Loki made his way to the land of the dark elves and sought out the sons of Ivaldi. He explained that he needed them to spin gold as fine as Sif's hair and imbue it with magic so that it would grow on her head. In return, he promised them the thanks of Sif and Thor, and all the friendship of the gods. The dwarfs agreed to the bargain, and created the hair. They then decided that it would be foolish to waste the fire, so they created a ship for Freyr called Skidbladnir that could be dismantled until they were no larger than a piece of cloth, and a spear for Odin called Gungnir that would never miss its mark. Loki thanked them and made his way back.
On his way, he had an idea to visit the dwarf brothers Brokk and Eitri. He showed them his treasures and challenged them to make something of finer craftsmanship. He told them he would stake his head on it. The dwarf brothers were eager to take up the challenge. They created a boar with bristles of gold for Freyr called Gullinbursti that could outrun any horse and was always surrounded by a brilliant light, an arm-ring of solid gold for Odin called Draupnir that would drop 8 rings of its own weight on every 9th night, and an iron hammer for Thor called Mjollnir that could never be broken and would always return when thrown.
Brokk then accompanied Loki to Asgard to have the gifts judged by the gods. Odin, Thor, and Freyr were quick to agree that Mjollnir was the most valuable because it alone could guard the gods against the giants. Brokk then attempted to claim Loki's head. Loki retorted that he had promised his head, but not any part of his neck. Brokk replied that in that case, he could at least sew Loki's lips together to stop his 'sweet talk.'
Brokk ended up using his brothers awl because his own knife was not sharp enough to pierce Loki's lips. Once completed, Loki ran out of Gladsheim and ripped the leather thong out of his lips.