The question for the third day asks about symbols and icons of Loki. Because I’ve been musing about Loki as a sort of “Lord of Fractal Forces,” whose shapeshifting begins at subatomic levels and probably follows fractal-like patterns in the process, I’m going to answer this question about just a few of his symbols and iconic moments, using a selection of fractal images.
Please see references at bottom of this article.
Hail Loptr!
Hail Flamehair! Loki as a sky-walking god of fire and lightening. [1] [2]
Hail Lóðurr!
Loki as Lóðurr (or Lóður) grants blood and “good color” to the first humans, Ask and Embla, who start out as trees (18th stanza Völuspá). [3]
Hail, Father of Monsters!
Loki, as father of Hel, Fenrir, and Jormungandr. [4]
Hail, Mother of Witches!
Mother of witches (troll women), after eating a burnt woman’s heart, left on a tree, possibly as an offering (see stanza 12, Völuspá hin skamma).
Hail, Mother of Sleipnir!
Loki gives birth to the magic, eight-legged horse, Sleipnir. [see 2 again.]
Hail to the Bound God! (Let’s get you out of there!)
Loki’s agony: bound with his child’s entrails, unable to escape the venom dripped from a snake. [5]
Hail Vulture’s Path!
Loki as Gammleið, “the vulture’s path” and perhaps a reference to cremation fire. [6]
Hail Worldbreaker!
Loki captains Naglfar, the corpse ship also known as the “Ship of Dead Men’s Nails,” prior to Ragnarok. (See stanza 51, Völuspá.) [7] [8]
The Star Sirius, Lokabrenna (Loki’s Torch)
References
Voluspa.org
[1] Loptson, Dagulf. 2014. Playing with Fire–An Exploration of Loki Laufeyjarson. Asphodel Press. pp. 27-29.
[2] Grundy, Stephan. 2015. God in Flames, God in Fetters. Troth Publications. pp. 35-40.
[3] Loptson, Dagulf. pp. 22-26.
[4] Grundy, Stephan. p. 4.
[5] Loptson, Dagulf. pp. 31-32.
[6] Loptson, Dagulf. pp. 29-31.
[7] Grundy, Stephan. pp. 26-27.
[8] Loptson, Dagulf. pp.182-185.
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