Loki is a god in Norse mythology. He is the son of Fárbauti, a jötunn, and Laufey, mentioned as a goddess, and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. Loki is known as a cunning trickster who had the ability to change his shape and sex. He is often represented as the companion of the great gods Odin and Thor, helping them with his clever plans but sometimes causing embarrassment and difficulty for them and himself. Loki is also credited with giving birth to Sleipnir, Odin’s eight-legged horse. With the female giant Angerboda, Loki produced the progeny Hel, the goddess of death; Jörmungand, the serpent that surrounds the world; and Fenrir, the wolf.

Lokis status in pre-Christian Scandinavia remains somewhat obscure. The medieval sources from which came much of what is known of Loki provide no evidence of a cult, unlike for other Norse deities, and the name Loki does not appear in place-names. Scholars have debated Lokis origins and role in Norse mythology, which some have described as that of a trickster god. While treated as a nominal member of the gods, Loki occupies a highly ambivalent and ultimately unique position among the gods, giants, and the other kinds of spiritual beings that populate the pre-Christian Norse religion.

In modern popular culture, Loki has been depicted in a variety of ways, sometimes as a dark-haired Semitic fifth columnist, and other times as mischievous and self-serving, yet lovable and charming. However, while Loki’s characterisation is consistent in popular culture, there is very little consistent about Loki in Norse mythology.