Útgarða-Loki

In Norse mythology, Útgarða-Loki (Anglicized as Utgarda-Loki and in other ways) was the ruler of the castle Útgarðr in Jötunheimr. He was one of the Jötnar and his name means literally "Loki of the Outyards," to distinguish him from Loki, the companion of Thor.

"Prose Edda"

According to the "Prose Edda" book "Gylfaginning", Thor, Þjálfi and Loki encounter a giant named Skrýmir ("Big-looking"Lindow (2001:273).] ) and then go with him to Útgarðr. They took part in several contests organized by Útgarða-Loki. The tests were all rigged. Loki participated in an eating contest against fire personified. Þjálfi competed in running against the mind of Útgarða-Loki. Thor wrestled with Elli who was Old Age personified, tried to lift Jörmungandr appearing as a cat and finally tried to empty a drinking horn connected to the sea. Thor and his companions left humiliated, but were heartened when a servant approached to tell them they had in fact performed great feats doing as well as they did with their challenges, and that Skrýmir was actually Útgarða-Loki.

"Gesta Danorum"

In "Gesta Danorum" a ship meets strong winds and sacrifices are made to various gods to obtain favorable weather, including to one called Utgarthilocus. With vows and propitiations to him a beneficial spell of weather is obtained. Later an expedition to the land of the giants comes upon this figure.

Apart from the name of the giant there is little that reminds of Snorri's Útgarða-Loki. The bound giant figure is more reminiscent of the bound Loki who likewise lies chained and tortured in a cave.

Notes

References

*Davidson, Hilda Ellis (ed.) and Peter Fisher (tr.) (1980). "Saxo Grammaticus : The History of the Danes : Books I-IX".
*Lindow, John (2001). "Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs". Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515382-0