There are few subjects that will create a fire storm of debate (if one wants to be nice and call it “debate”) among Northmen and Northwomen like the subject of Loki. There are likewise few characters in our lore that are more enigmatic than he. In this article I hope to examine the major stories Loki participates and more importantly some of the theories regarding him.

 First let us take a general biographical look at Loki. Loki is said to be the son of the giantess, Laufey and the giant Farbauti. He was father to the Fenris Wolf (Fenrir), Jormungandr (The World Serpent) and Hel the mistress of the world of the dead by the giantess Angrbotha. He is Othinn's Blood-brother and husband of the goddess Sigyn and frequent travel companion of Thorr. He is said by Snorri to be the instigator of Baldr's murder and to fight on the side of the giants at Ragnarok.

 In Grimnismal 42 is the story of how Othinn's eight-legged horse Sleipnir came to be and the walls of Asgarthr were built. Early on, when Vallholl was first built there came a giant disguised as a builder who promised to build walls that were strong enough to repel any attack made by the giants and do it in three seasons. He asked for his payment the hand of the goddess Freyja, and the sun and moon. The gods countered his proposal saying he could indeed have the demanded payment but only if he finished the wall in one winter and if one stone were left out on the first day of summer then he would forfeit he wages. The builder asked if he could have his horse called Svathilfari to help in his work. Loki advised the gods that they accept this condition and so the builder agreed to the conditions. The gods were pleased because they thought it impossible for him to complete the wall in such a short time. So on the first day of winter, the builder set to work with his great horse hauling great stones and doing more work than the builder himself did. When the end of Winter was close at hand they saw that the builder would indeed complete the wall on time and this caused them great concern because the price the would be forced to pay. When the 1^st day of Summer was only three days away, the gods took council on what could be done to avert the catastrophe that would be, if they were forced to pay the builder his wages. Loki swore that he would do whatever it took to avert the disaster. So he changed himself into the form of a mare in heat and ran to the edge of a forest opposite where the great stallion Svathilfari was working and whinnied. Svathilfari bounded off in pursuit of the mare which ran for day and a night. The builder took off in pursuit of the stallion and because of it he lost a full days work and because of this he could no longer finish the wall in time. When he realized that he could no longer finish the wall the builder became wrathful and revealed his true giant self. When the gods saw this they considered their oath to him as not valid since it was given under false pretenses. The immediately called on Thorr who came straight away and bashed the giants head in with his hammer, Mjollnir. Later on Loki returned with the gray eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, which he had given birth to when he was in the form of a mare after having had relations with the stallion Svathilfari. Loki gave Sleipnir to Othinn and there never was nor is a better or faster horse.

 In Thrymskvitha there is the story of the theft and return of Thorr's hammer. One day Thorr awoke to find his great hammer Mjollnir was missing. As Mjollnir was considered the god's greatest treasure and it was Thorr's main weapon in his battles with the giants there was great concern at it being missing. So Thorr told Loki of the theft and Loki went to Freyja to ask if he could borrow her falcon cloak so that he might go looking for the hammer. Freyja agreed and Loki was off in Freyja's falcon cloak. Loki looked far and wide and finally came upon the giant Thrym sitting on a mound with his dogs. Loki told him of the ill tidings and asked him if he had stolen the hammer. Thrym admitted that he had. He said that he had hidden the hammer eight miles underneath ground and that no one would have the hammer unless he had Freyja as his wife. So Loki flew back to Asgarthr with this news. He told the gods of the news and then went to Freyja to ask her to agree to go to the land of the giants and wed Thrym so that they could get Mjollnir back. Freyja became so angry, that they would even think of asking her to wed the giant, that her wrath shook Asgarthr and her wonderful necklace Brisingamen was burst apart. So the gods held council on what should be done to get Thorr's hammer back. Heimdallr came up with the plan that was decided upon. The would dress mighty Thorr up in bridal gowns so that he appeared to be Freyja. So Freyja's necklace Brisingamen was given to Thorr to complete the ruse and Loki went along dressed as a maid-servant. So together they set out for the land of the giants to the wedding feast that Thrym the king of the giants had prepared. Thorr ate and drank mightily as was his way and Thrym became suspicious saying, “How is it that Freyja comes to eat and drink so much? Never have I seen a bride with such an appetite.” But Loki had the answer. He said that such was Freyja's desire to wed the king that she had fasted for eight nights. So Thrym came close and lifted the veil so as to kiss the bride and jumped back at the site of Thorr's eyes. “Never have I seen eyes to fearful. Fire burns from the eyes of Freyja!” But Loki was ready with an answer here as well. He said, “So much was her longing for you, she did not sleep for those eight nights either.” Then Thrym's sister came and demanded bridal fee of red gold in exchange for her good will. It was then that Thrym called for the hammer to be brought forth as it was tradition to lay the hammer on the brides lap. When the hammer was laid on Thorr's lap he grasped it and began to laugh. He lept up and slew Thrym and then the rest of the giants there. Thrym's sister got a stroke of the hammer instead of the red gold she craved that day.

 In Skaldskaparmal 1 we find the story of how Idunn was kidnapped and her golden apples stolen. One day Othinn, Loki and Hoenir set out traveling over the mountains and waste lands. They soon found that food was very scarce and hard to come by. After a while they came to a dale where they found a heard of Oxen. They immediately killed one and began to cook it. After a while they thought that the meat must surely be done so they scattered the fire but found that it was not cooked. So they built another fire and after a time, in which they were sure the meat should have been cooked, they scattered the fire again but it was the same as before. The meat was not cooked. So they took council on what they should do. Suddenly they heard a voice from high up in a nearby oak tree call to them. They looked up to see a very large eagle in the tree. The eagle, who was Thjazi in disguise, said that if they would allow him to have a fair portion of the ox then the fire would cook the meat. So Othinn, Loki and Hoenir agreed and the meat cooked this time. The eagle came down and instead of eating his fair share, ate much more. Loki became angry and snatched up a great pole and thrust it at the eagle knocking it back violently. The pole, however became stuck to the eagle and likewise, Loki's hands became stuck to the pole. The eagle flew up dragging Loki with him high enough to where Loki's feet knocked against the tops of the trees. So violent was the flight that Loki thought his arms would wrenched from their sockets. Loki begged for truce with the Eagle but he refused saying that he would never let him go unless he swore an oath to bring Idunn with her golden apples outside the walls of Asgarthr at an appointed time. Loki swore the oath, thinking he had no other choice and the eagle let him go. Othinn, Loki and Hoenir continued on their journey and after a time eventually returned home to Asgarthr.

Later the appointed time came for when Loki was to bring Idunn and her golden apples outside the walls. Loki went to Idunn and said that he had found a tree in a certain wood that had the most wonderful apples and that he wished for her to bring her apples so that she might compare them to see which were better. Idunn agreed and true to his oath, Loki brought her to the wood where Thjazi came in the form of an eagle again and snatched her and her apples up, taking her to his home, Thrymheimr.

The gods and goddesses of Asgarthr immediately felt her absense and began to grow old. Alarmed they held council as to what should be done. It was told that the last that was seen of Idunn was when she was outside the walls of Asgarthr with Loki. So Loki was brought to the Thing and threatened with torture and death if he did not bring Idunn back. Loki said that he would do so if Freyja would loan him her Falcon cloak. She did so and Loki was off to Thrymheimr. Thjazi was out to see when Loki arrived so Loki turned Idunn into an acorn and grasped her in his claw and took off straight away back to Asgarthr. Now Thjazi arrived back at Thrymheimr shortly after Loki had left and found that Idunn was not there. He immediately took on the form of an eagle and gave chase.

Back at Asgarthr the gods and goddesses saw a long way off, a Falcon coming and an eagle close behind pursuing. They quickly built a large fire. When Loki swooped in, they stoked the fire very high and Thjazi was unable to stop in time and his feathers were singed and he fell to the ground just inside the gates of Asgarthr. The Aesir quickly killed him and with Idunn back they returned to the normal youthful selves.