Loki is a very complex and interesting god in the Norse mythology who is connected to lots of symbolism.
He is mostly known as a trickster with a sinister nature, dubious, though smart, handsome and graceful looking. Besides this, he is the god of fire, heat and lightning.
His name comes from the icelandic word “loki” which means raging flames, fire. His name origin also explains his double nature: sometimes benevolent, sometimes evil.
Fire as a controlled, helpful power and tool and on the other hand uncontrolled, chaotic and destructive.
“Beneficial is the might of flame,
when through human hand guarded, tamed…
but dreadful is heavens force and strength,
when teared and ripped from its chains.”
(Sorry for bad translation here, couldn’t find anything really fitting)
The symbolism continues with Lokis origin, though there are different versions of his race.
Most suggest that his parents were giants and that Loki gained entrance to Asgard by winning Odin’s friendship by becoming blood-brothers. Some sources also call Loki the evil half of Odin.
His father’s name is Farbauti (the dangerous beater) which would be the lightning.
His mother is named Nol or Laufey (the needle from a tree/ dry leaf).
When the lighning hits the dry leaf of a tree, fire is born. This origin also explains that Thor and Loki are often depicted as companions: Thunder and lighning.
Loki has excellent magical powers of shape shifting; not only into any beast but he is also able to change genders.
A giant demanded the sun, the moon and the beautiful goddess Freya for building a wall around Asgard. So Loki took shape of a mare to distract the giant’s stallion Swadilfari who carried his supplies, to prevent the wall to be ready at the deadline. Thereafter Loki, still being the mare, bore Odin’s swift steed Sleipnir.
Other children of Loki have a more evil nature. The giantess Angrboda (bringer of sorrow) bore him Hel - the Queen of the Dead, the Midgard serpent Jormungand and the wolf Fenrir.
In the final battle, Ragnarök, Loki reveals his true nature, which is chaotic and evil and he and his enemy Heimdall kill each other.
There is no direct proof of the worship of Loki, though - after Odin and Thor - most of the songs and poets deal with Loki.
Since Loki is such a complex figure I left out a good deal about him, if you want to know more about him, just go ahead and ask.
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