Loyal Sigyn is the goddess of compassion and mercy. As Loki’s wife her duty is to stand close to her chained husband and relieve his suffering until Ragnarok.
Short Facts
Sigyn responsibilities
Care, empathy, loyalty, moral support, and protecting Loki from the venom that dripped onto his face
Animals Associated with Sigyn
A red fox
Sigyn weapon/domain of power
Compassion, her persistence, her protective bowl, and her undying faithfulness
The punishment
Although not stated explicitly, Sigyn is considered to be the goddess of compassion, devotion and mercy. She is regarded as a kind and patient figure that eases the pain of others, both physically and mentally. Sigyn is the daughter of Volundr and Sol, but most importantly she is the wife of Loki the Trickster. Together they have two sons; Narfi and Vali. Sigyn’s name means ‘female friend of victory’ in Old Norse.
The only information about Sigyn comes from the tale involving Loki’s imprisonment and punishment. Being responsible for Baldur’s death, Loki was severely and cruelly punished for his crime. The Aesir transformed one of his sons, Vali, into a ferocious wolf. Vali, having lost his sense of reason, attacked his brother Narfi and ripped him apart. The gods then took Narfi’s entrails and used them to bound Loki to a rock, in a deep cave.
The faithful wife
To complete his torment, the Aesir placed a poisonous snake above Loki’s head. The serpent was to drip its deadly venom onto Loki’s face until the dawn of Ragnarok. Yet, Sigyn, true and loyal to her husband, remained by his side. Whether seeking solace for the terrible loss of her children or actually being a devoted wife, Sigyn stayed with Loki.
From that moment forth Sigyn would constantly hold a bowl over Loki’s head to catch the venom and protect him. But, each time Sigyn had to empty the bowl a few drops would fall on Loki’s forehead. The excruciating pain would make Loki squirm and consequently cause frightful earthquakes. This would carry on until the three Roosters crow and Ragnarok begins. Then, as it is foretold, Loki shall be released from his imprisonment and seek revenge.
Mentions
In the Poetic Edda, Sigyn is mentioned in the poems Voluspa and Lokasenna. She appears sitting unhappily with her bound husband Loki, easing his pain.
In the Prose Edda, Sigyn is attested in the books Gylfaginning and Skaldskaparmal.
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FAQs
The answer is love. Sigyn must be deeply in love with Loki to be so devoted to him. Unfortunately, the details of how these two met are not available. But, her selflessness and faithfulness signify her unconditional love towards the god of mischief.
The Aesir wanted to punish Loki for killing their beloved Baldur. The idea of just imprisoning him wasn’t enough. So, they mercilessly killed his sons he had with Sigyn in order to make him hurt. The notion behind this decision is clear enough. But, the pain inflicted on her is beyond measure. Someone might say that she had to know the price of marrying such a wicked and dangerous god.
Featured Image Credit: Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
She is also mentioned in Jakub Ćwiek book, Liar in first tome
Hi Karolina, thanks for the recommenddation. Gotta say that book, “Loki – the Liar: Heaven’s Hitman” is pretty cool 🙂