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cimoreneSo I spent quite a few hours this evening hunting down the story in which Loki and Heimdal fight in the form of seals over Freyja's magical necklace, Brisingamen. I saw brief, tantalizing mentions of turning into a seal and I was dying for all the details because that sounds like a hilariously cracktastic myth, even more so than a lot of the other ones about Loki.
In short, though, there isn't much detail to be had. :/ The only source is a poem called "Húsdrápa" which is reproduced in part in the Prose Edda, but frequently left out of the translations thereof. The poem itself is long, but it's basically a collection of brief verses evidently referring to stories that all present would recognize. It encompasses a few myths, and there are only two verses which deal with this episode. I found one Danish translation from the 20s, but none in Norwegian, Swedish, or English, so therefore I've translated the two relevant verses myself1.
So basically "the victorious seal" is the best epithet ever. (And I wasn't kidding about details being scarce, although there's a bit more in the Skald section of the Prose Edda under 'Heimdal' and 'Loki'.)
Also I really like to imagine Loki changing into a seal exclusively in order to sit and gloat over his stolen treasure. "What's great at clapping in glee? I know! Seals! They're practically made for clapping. I've never been a seal before..."
1. The translation is mostly based on the Danish here, but with very slight reference to the Old Norse and to the half of it that's rendered in English here.
2. Referred to as such in several English sources I saw, but it's basically 'House Song'
i. Loki's adjective here is apparently the Old Norse equivalent of Old Swedish "firnarvärk-sluga" which is given as "sin-sly" in the old English translation. The cool part is that the origin is the same as "vidunder" (monster). The Old Swedish Lexicon says, basically, "A morally offensive act; applied to blood shame, sodomy and occasionally other serious crimes." Loki is sly about everything of course, but I wonder if it could be meant to refer specifically to his well-documented sexual practices there?
In short, though, there isn't much detail to be had. :/ The only source is a poem called "Húsdrápa" which is reproduced in part in the Prose Edda, but frequently left out of the translations thereof. The poem itself is long, but it's basically a collection of brief verses evidently referring to stories that all present would recognize. It encompasses a few myths, and there are only two verses which deal with this episode. I found one Danish translation from the 20s, but none in Norwegian, Swedish, or English, so therefore I've translated the two relevant verses myself1.
from Húsdrápa2
2.
The guardian of the rainbow bridge
journeyed to Singasteinn
with Fárbauti's son,
shameless slyi Loki.
3.
Heimdal, the victorious seal,
son of nine mothers,
is already holding
the wondrous Brisingamen.
So basically "the victorious seal" is the best epithet ever. (And I wasn't kidding about details being scarce, although there's a bit more in the Skald section of the Prose Edda under 'Heimdal' and 'Loki'.)
Also I really like to imagine Loki changing into a seal exclusively in order to sit and gloat over his stolen treasure. "What's great at clapping in glee? I know! Seals! They're practically made for clapping. I've never been a seal before..."
1. The translation is mostly based on the Danish here, but with very slight reference to the Old Norse and to the half of it that's rendered in English here.
2. Referred to as such in several English sources I saw, but it's basically 'House Song'
i. Loki's adjective here is apparently the Old Norse equivalent of Old Swedish "firnarvärk-sluga" which is given as "sin-sly" in the old English translation. The cool part is that the origin is the same as "vidunder" (monster). The Old Swedish Lexicon says, basically, "A morally offensive act; applied to blood shame, sodomy and occasionally other serious crimes." Loki is sly about everything of course, but I wonder if it could be meant to refer specifically to his well-documented sexual practices there?
(no subject)
Date: 22 Aug 2011 02:01 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 22 Aug 2011 03:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 22 Aug 2011 04:01 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 22 Aug 2011 06:14 pm (UTC)In the Valhall comics that I looked at last night he turned into a cat and then a flea to sneak into Freyja's bedroom. There's a great image of Freyja sleeping naked and flea!Loki bouncing off her ass on the way to her jewelry box.
Also he was obviously an Ibex at one point and liked the horns so much that he had that helmet made up in their honor.