LAUFEY, or LAUFEIA, name of a giantess, the mother of Asa Lok.
LEIRE, name of the ancient capital of Denmark, situated on the Issefiord, in Sealand. Leire was the theatre of many an important event. The modern city of Roskild is very near the spot, where Leire once stood.
LIF and LIFTRASIR, names of two mythological beings, who remain concealed in the wood of Hoddmimer, at the destruction of the world, and from whom the new race of men are to spring; these beings are purely allegorical, for lif signifies “life,” and liftrasir “producer of life.”
LINDERNÆS, name of a promontory on the southern coast of Norway, in the canton of Mandal.
LODER, an Asa, who conferred beauty on mankind; by some he is confounded with Ve, the third person of the Scandinavian mythologic triad.
LOFNA, name of an Asynia, who presided over marriage. Etym.: Icelandic verb lofa (to promise, to betroth).
LOK, ASA LOK, UTGARD LOK. In the Gothic mythology, there are two important personages of the name of Lok or Loke, in the earliest times perhaps identic, but in the latter divided; namely Lok of Utgard, the supreme ruler of the giants or malevolent spirits, belonging to our world’s system, who dwells in and rules over Utgard; and Asa Lok, originally of giant race, but admitted among the Asar. According to Ling, a modern Swedish poet, in the notes to his poem, called Asarne (the Asar), the mythe of the two Loks is thus explained: Utgard Lok represents the subterranean fire and its destructive effects, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions; Asa Lok represents the deleterious qualities of the air, such as tempests and unwholesome exhalations. In my opinion, the most simple explanation of this mythe would be as follows: Utgard Lok typifies physical evils and calamities, and in this respect he resembles the Siva of the Hindoos; as possessor of subterranean riches, he resembles the Plutus of the Greeks, who, as we are told, was related to Pluto. Asa Lok is the type of moral evil, or the propensity to vice in human nature, which has been personified by the Orientals, under the various names of Satan, Ahrimanes, Belial and Eblis. The punishment inflicted on Asa Lok for his treachery has been already related. At Ragnarok, he will break his chain, and join in combat with the giants against the gods. He and Heimdal will destroy each other.
LOPTUR, a name given to Asa Lok; it means one who runs through the air.
MALSTROM, name of the famous whirlpool on the coast of Norway, near Lofoden. Malstrom signifies “millstream.” It is called by the Skalds the mill of Ægir.
MAANEGARM, name of the mythologic winged goblin, who constantly pursues the moon (maane), and will swallow her up at Ragnarok.