Brokkr- Norse CreatureCreature"Master Smith"

The Wager with Loki

The story, preserved in the Skáldskaparmál, begins with Loki seeking to make amends for cutting off Sif's golden hair. He visited the Sons of Ivaldi, who created new hair for Sif, the ship Skíðblaðnir, and the spear Gungnir. Then Loki rashly wagered his own head with the dwarf Brokkr that Brokkr and his brother Sindri could not create works of equal worth. Brokkr accepted.

The Contest of the Forge

The brothers set to work, with Sindri performing the smithing while Brokkr operated the bellows. Sindri warned that the bellows must pump continuously without interruption, or the work would be ruined.

Loki transformed into a fly and stung Brokkr's hand as they forged Gullinbursti, a golden boar whose bristles glowed with light. Brokkr continued pumping despite the pain. During the forging of Draupnir, the golden ring that drips eight copies every ninth night, Loki stung Brokkr's neck. Again the dwarf held steady.

For their final creation, Sindri placed iron in the forge. Desperate, Loki stung Brokkr on the eyelid, drawing blood into his eye. For one moment, Brokkr paused to wipe it away. The hammer Mjölnir emerged with its handle too short.

Judgment and Punishment

The gods declared Mjölnir the greatest treasure despite its flaw, and Brokkr won the wager. He demanded Loki's head as payment, but Loki argued that while the dwarves might take his head, they had no right to his neck, and they could not remove one without cutting the other.

Brokkr settled for sewing Loki's lips shut with an awl and leather thong, silencing the trickster's clever tongue. Loki eventually freed himself.