The artful dodger in the Germanic pan-theon, and the sire of several agencieshostile to the gods – the wolf → Fenrir, →Hel and the → Midgard-snake. In one ofhis manifestations, as a mare, Loki issaid to have given birth to the stallionSleipnir. He can, in fact, take on almostany shape he wishes. Popular etymology has connected his name with the word log (German Lohe � fierce flames).Wherever Loki appears along with Odin,he acts as the factotum of the gods, neverat a loss for sharp practice. Otherwise,however, he is their adversary: he causesthe death of → Balder, and brings aboutthe destruction of the world (Ragnarök).His consort is → Sigyn.

Lowalangi (Lowalani) The inhabitantsof the island of Nias in Indonesia believein Lowalangi as the god of the worldabove, the source of all that is good; hiselder brother and adversary is → LatureDanö. Lowalangi is lord of life anddeath; he is omnipresent and omnisicient,

the creator of mankind. His namefigures in prayers of supplication and insolemn oaths. His sacred creatures arethe cock, the rhino-bird and the eagle.He partakes in the sun and in light. Menare the property (the pigs) of Lowalangi,and just as people take good care of theirpigs, so does Lowalangi look after hispeople.

Lucifer (Latin � bringer of light)A name used in Christianity for the devil.It goes back to Isaiah 14: 12, where thecasting into hell of the King of Babylon islikened to the fall of the resplendentmorning star (Hebrew helal). The namewas applied by the church fathers to →Satan, on the basis of Luke 10: 18, whereSatan is said to fall as lightning fromheaven. Certain Gnostic sects regardedLucifer as a divine power in his own right,or as the ‘first-born son of God’.

Lucina Old Italic goddess of birth,whose grove was on Cispius. She wasabsorbed by → Juno, in her capacity asgoddess of women.

Lü Dong-bin (also known as Lü Yan)One of the ‘Eight Immortals’ (→ BaXian). Many tales are told of his won-drous deeds. He is the tutelary god ofbarbers; his attribute is a sword withwhich he slays demons.

Lug (Lugus) A Celtic god, after whomthe ancient capital of Galliens Lugdunum(the modern Lyon) was named. His func-tions identify him as a god of war and ofthe magic arts, but poets benefit from himas well as warriors and magicians. Theraven is particularly associated with him.In the Irish sagas, Lug is also calledLamfada � he of the long hand, and somestudents have seen in this a reference tothe sun’s rays, just as his spear has beeninterpreted as indicating lightning. HisIrish epithet Samildanach (‘he who can

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