The trouble began with a cruel prank. The god of mischief, Loki, cut off all the golden hair of Sif, wife of the thunder god Thor. When Thor discovered this, his rage was so immense he threatened to break every bone in Loki's body. To save his life, Loki made a desperate promise: he would travel to Svartalfheim, the realm of the dwarves, and find a replacement. He vowed to have master smiths forge a head of hair from pure gold, one that would grow just like the original. This quest, born from malice, resulted in the forging of the greatest treasures the gods had ever known.
The Creation of Mjölnir
The Norse myth, told in Snorri's Prose Edda, of how Loki's prank on Sif led to a wager with the dwarf smiths who forged Thor's hammer Mjölnir.
Chapter 1
A Malicious Prank
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Loki cause the treasures to be made?
It began as a prank. Loki cut off the golden hair of Sif, Thor's wife. Enraged, Thor threatened to break every bone in Loki's body unless he replaced it with something equally beautiful that could grow.
What was the flaw in Mjölnir?
The hammer's handle was unusually short. This happened because Loki, disguised as a fly, bit the dwarf Brokkr on the eyelid as he worked the forge bellows. Brokkr stopped for a split second, causing the forge fire to dip.
Did Loki lose his head in the wager?
No, he escaped through a loophole. He argued that the dwarf Brokkr had won his head, but not his neck. As punishment for his trickery, Brokkr was allowed to sew Loki's lips shut instead.
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