Loki’s Terrifying Children
Where did Loki’s children go?
Loki and the giantess Angrboda had 3 children: Fenrir the wolf, Jormungand the great serpent, and Hel. The children were growing up in the land of the giants when the gods learned of a prophecy that the siblings would bring great disaster.
The children were brought before the gods. Jormungand was thrown into the deep sea surrounding all the lands. There the serpent grew until he was large enough to encircle all the lands and bite his own tail.
Hel was thrown into Niflheim and given power over 9 worlds. Her task was to provide lodging and food for those sent to her after dying of sickness or old age. Her dwelling had very high walls and great gates.
Half of Hel’s body was blue-black, while the other half was the color of ordinary skin. Her face was frightening, too. Fenrir, meanwhile, was raised among the gods. Only Tyr dared to go near him and give him food.
Sources for this story (1)Loki’s Terrifying Children
of öll lönd ok bítr í sporð sér
He encircles all the lands and bites his own tail.
“The Beguiling of Gylfi” Chapter 34
“The Beguiling of Gylfi”Gylfaginning


Image details
Emil Doepler “Lokis Gezücht” 1905 Public domain View original image
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