ODIN, THOR, AND LOKE.—THEIR CHARACTERS PHYSICALLY INTERPRETED.—THEIR WIVES AND OFFSPRING.—THE THREE DEMON CHILDREN OF LOKE.—INFLUENCE OF THIS DEITY OVER THE FATE OF THE UNIVERSE.—HE IS PRESENT IN EVERY GREAT MYTHOS.—RAPE OF IDUNA.—THOR’S VISITS TO JOTUNHEIM.—THOR AND THE GIANT HYMIR.—THOR AND THE GIANT THRYM.—NIVOD, FREYR, FREYA.—EXPEDITION OF SKIRNIR-ÆGIR AND RAN.—OTHER DEITIES.—BALDER.—PUNISHMENT OF LOKE.—RAGNAROK.—RECOGNITION OF A GREAT FIRST CAUSE BY THE PAGAN SCANDINAVIANS. ODIN, THOR, LOKE. Page Wives and Sons of ODIN 92 His Functions, Abodes, and Ministers 93 The three Valkyrs 93 Legend of Odin and Sterkodder 94 This Legend furnishes another Proof of 95 the Fact that Odin was a foreign Deity THOR, his Superiority over Odin in the 96 more ancient System of the North, and his three Treasures Mythical Interpretation 97 Thor peculiarly worshipped in Norway 97 The Giants, the everlasting Enemies of 98 Thor This Article of popular Belief 98 essentially Celtic LOKE 99 His Description 100 His Offspring three:— 1. The Great Serpent 101 2. Hela, Queen of Death 101 3. The Wolf Fenris 102 Manner in which the last-named Demon was 102 bound by the Gods Loke originally the same with 103 Utgardelok, and the Personification of Evil in the Celtic Creed Mythological Fables in which Loke is 104 concerned RAPE OF IDUNA. Page Odin, Hoenir, and Loke visit Utgard 105 Loke compelled to promise that he will 105 deliver Iduna into the Power of Thiasse He performs his Promise 106 Consequent Wrath of the Gods, who compel 106 him to restore her Interpretation of this Mythos 107 THOR’S VISITS TO UTGARD. Page Loke, taken by the Giants, is compelled 108 to promise that he will bring Thor without Belt or Hammer Thor accordingly undertakes the Journey; 109 his Punishment of Geyruth, and the Daughters of that Giant