Giant, Loki's father. The name means 'dangerous striker'.
Farbauti (Old Norse Fárbauti) is a giant known as Loki's father. His name is usually interpreted as 'dangerous striker', and has been connected to lightning in naturalistic mythological interpretations. Gylfaginning 33 states that Loki is 'son of Farbauti' and that his mother is named Laufey or Nal.
Farbauti appears in sources such as Sörla þáttr and Gylfaginning, but has no independent mythological narrative. He is mentioned solely through his role as Loki's father. In kennings, Loki is sometimes called 'Farbautason'.
Sources in the Eddas
- Gylfaginning 33
- Snorri names Farbauti as Loki's father and Laufey/Nal as his mother.
Interpretive traditions
A What we know
Farbauti is Loki's father according to Gylfaginning 33.
Loki's patronymic Farbautason confirms the parentage.
B What we think we know
The interpretation of the name as 'lightning' in a naturalistic reading (Laufey = 'leaf', fire created by lightning) is disputed.
C What we do not know
Farbauti's possible role in older myths beyond the patronymic tradition is unknown.