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Lee M. Hollander, in his introduction to his translation of the poem, claims that it was in no sense a popular lay and suggests we should not necessarily believe that the accusations of the "sly god" were an accepted part of the lore. Nevertheless the poem provides a great deal of incidental and secondary information about the gods, their doings and their propensities: the character of Loki (particularly in this poem) was to the Norsemen what a contemporary gossip columnist is to modern society, both mischievous and muck-raking.
The setting is a feast given by the sea god Aegir. (In a nice piece of continuity, the prose introduction says: "Ægir, also named Gymir, had made ale for the Æsir, when he had received the great kettle of which was told" (see Hymiskviða)). Thor did not attend, but his wife Sif came in his stead as did Bragi and his wife Iduna. Tyr, by this time one-handed as a consequence of his sacrifice of his hand in the shackling of Loki's son, the wolf Fenrisulfr, attended, as did Niord and his wife Skadi, FreyrFreyr is a very important god in Old Norse religion; not so much in Norse mythology as one might suppose, for there he actually appears in only one surviving story, but very much in the cult. Eddic traditions Freyr is a member of the Vanir, the male ferti and FreyaSee Freya radar for German World War II radar. This article uses English names. Old Norse names are given in italics in parentheses''. Freya Freyja , the sister of Frey Freyr and the daughter of Niord Njrdr , is usually seen as the fertility goddess of No, as well as Vithar , the son of Odin. Many other VanirThe Vanir are usually considered one of the two pantheons of gods in Norse mythology. They include Njrdr, Freyr and Freya (Freyja), who lived among the AEsir since the end of the conflict between the two clans of gods (traded for Mimir and Hœnir); t, AesirThe Aesir ( Old Norse sir singular ss feminine synja feminine plural synjur are the principal pantheon of gods in Norse mythology. They include many of the major figures, such as Odin, Frigg, Thor, Balder and Tyr. A second clan of gods, the Vanir is also, and also elvesElves are mythical creatures of Germanic mythology that have survived in northern European folklore. Originally a race of minor gods of nature and fertility, they are often pictured as small, youthful-seeming men and women of great beauty living in forest were there.
The servants of Aegir, FimafengFimafeng is a servant of Aegir in Norse Mythology. His name means "quick service" or "handy service. In the Lokasenna, Loki kills Fimafeng during a feast for the Aesir being hosted by Aegir. This causes the Norse gods to expel Loki from the party. Loki re and Eldir , did a thorough job of welcoming the guests; Loki was jealous of the praise being heaped upon them and slew Fimafeng. The gods were angry with Loki and drove him out of the hall, before returning to their carousing. On returning Loki encountered Eldir.
He threatened him and bade him reveal what the gods were talking about in their cups. Eldir's response was that they were discussing their might at arms, and that Loki was persona non grata.
Loki then enters the hall of Aegir after trading insults and threats with Eldir. A hush fell. Loki calls upon the rules of hospitality, demanding a seat and ale. Bragi then responds that he is unwelcome. Loki demands fulfillment of an ancient oath sworn with Odin that they should drink together. Odin asked his son Vithar to make a space for Loki.
Vithar rises and pours a drink for Loki. Before Loki drains his draught, he utters a toast to the gods but pointedly excludes Bragi from it. Bragi offers Loki a horse, a ring and a sword to placate him; Loki, however, is spoiling for a fight, and insults Bragi by questioning his courage. Bragi's response is that it would be contrary to the rules of correct behaviour to fight within his hosts hall, but were they back in Asgard then things would be different. Loki goads Bragi again:
impugning her with child-love. Odin then attempts to take a grip, as do (in turn), Freya, Niord, Tyr, Freyr and Byggvir. The exchanges between Odin and Loki are particularly vitriolic.
Eventually Thor turns up at the party, and he is not to be placated, nor witheld. Alternating with Loki's insults to him, he says three times that he will use his hammer to knock Loki's head off if he contunues.
Loki is chased by the gods, and caught after an unsuccessful attempt at disguing himself as a salmon. His son Vali is turned into a wolf who kills his brother Narvi (a variation of which being that Fenrir is killed and his entrails are used to bind Loki, but this makes no sense as Fenrir must defeat the gods in the Ragnarok). The entrails are used to bind Loki to three rocks above which Skathi places a serpent to drip venom on him. Loki's wife Sigyn remains by his side with a bowl to catch the venom, however whenever she leaves to empty the bowl, venom falls on Loki, causing him to writhe in agony; these writhings were said to be the cause of earthquakes.
Interestingly, the Lokasenna does not directly state that Loki's binding is as a consequence of the killing of Baldur, a logical corollary which many have subsequently drawn.