The Children of Loki

Loki's mate, and the mother of three of his children (Hel, the wolf Fenrir, and the serpent Jörmungandr), was the giantess Angrboða.

Hel was the female being who was said to preside over the underworld realm of the same name, where she received a portion of the dead.

Fenrir is the father of the wolves Sköll and Hati Hróðvitnisson, who respectively chase the Sun and the Moon across the sky. He is foretold to kill Odin during the events of Ragnarök (the final battle of the world), but will in turn be killed by Odin's son Víðdarr.

After Loki's three children by Angrboda were removed from Asgard, the serpent Jörmungandr was tossed into the great ocean that encircles Midgard. There it grew so large that it was able to surround the Earth and grasp its own tail. When the serpent releases its tail, Ragnarök will begin; and during it, Jörmungandr will fight to the death with its arch–enemy – Thor, the thunder–god.

Loki was married to the deity Sigyn (about whom little else is known). They had one, two or three sons: Narfi (or Nari) and/or Váli. In some versions, Nari and Narfi are brothers and Narfi became a wolf and killed Nari. And (according to Wikipedia) some scholars believe the idea that Váli was Loki's son arose from an early transcription error!

Loki, in the form of a mare, gave birth to the eight–legged horse Sleipnir after being impregnated by the stallion Svaðilfari.

© Haydn Thompson 2023