The Old Norse name Fárbauti has been translated as 'dangerous striker',[1] 'anger striker',[2] or 'sudden-striker'.[3] It is a compound formed with the noun fár ('hostility, danger, unfortunateness, falseness') attached to the verb bauta ('to strike').[4]
Renowned defender [Heimdall] of the powers’ way [Bifröst], kind of counsel, competes with Farbauti’s terribly sly son [Loki] at Singastein
— Úlfr Uggason, Skáld. 16–17, trans. A. Faulkes, 1987.
The gracious lord of earth [Odin] bade Farbauti’s son [Loki] quickly share the bow-string-Var’s [Skadi’s] whale [ox] among the fellows.
— Þjóðólfr of Hvinir, Skáld. 22, trans. A. Faulkes, 1987.
InGylfaginning ('The Beguiling of Gylfi'), the enthroned figure of High states that Loki is the son of the jötunn Fárbauti,[2] and that "Laufey or Nál is his mother".[7]
His name is Loki or Lopt, son of the giant Farbauti. Laufey or Nal is his mother. Byleist and Helblindi are his brothers.
Axel Kock has proposed Fárbauti's name and character may have been inspired by the observation of the natural phenomena surrounding the appearance of wildfire. If Fárbauti as "dangerous striker" refers to "lightning", the figure would appear to be part of an early nature myth alluding to wildfire (Loki) being produced by lightning (Fárbauti) striking dry tinder such as leaves (Laufey) or pine needles (Nál).[9]
Although only indirectly attested in a kenning of Völuspá ('Prophecy of the Völva') mentioning Loki as "Byleist’s brother",[3] some scholars have considered Loki's brothers Helblindi and Býleistr to also be sons of Fárbauti.[10] However, their exact role in the presumably ancient mythic complex surrounding Loki's family remains largely unclear.[11]
Guelpa, Patrick (2009). Dieux & Mythes Nordique. Presses Universitaires du Septentrion. ISBN978-2-7574-0120-0.
Kock, Axel (1899). "Etymologisch-mythologische Untersuchungen" in: Brugmann, K. & Streitberg, W. (Eds.) Indogermanische Forschungen: Zeitschrift für indogermanische Sprach- und Altertumskunde, Vol. 10, pp. 90–111. Strassburg: Karl J. Trübner.
