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Hynes and Doty, in Mythical Trickster Figures (1997) state that every trickster has several of the following six traits: [1] fundamentally ambiguous and anomalous deceiver and trick-player
From Loki and Eris to Anansi, Trickster Gods can be found in mythologies all around the world. While their stories are often entertaining, and sometimes terrifying, almost all tales of these gods of mischief were created to teach us something about ourselves.
Male deities depicted as tricksters, story characters (gods, goddesses, spirits, humans or anthropomorphisations) who exhibit a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge and use it to play tricks or otherwise disobey normal rules and defy conventional behavior.
The figure of the trickster is an archetype found in cultures the world over. From devious Loki to the dancing Kokopelli, most societies have had, at some point, a deity associated with mischief, deceit, betrayal and treachery. However, often these trickster gods have a purpose behind their trouble-making plans!
When animals appear as Tricksters, they are usually small predators like foxes or coyotes. Tricksters are, of course, well known for their scheming brains. Outsmarting one of these characters is next to impossible, but brains aren’t the only weapon in their arsenal. They are masters of disguise.
In mythology and the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a character in a story (god, goddess, spirit, human or anthropomorphisation) who exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge and uses it to play tricks or otherwise disobey normal rules and defy conventional behavior.
Discover the enduring legacy of tricksters in mythology, from Hermes to Coyote, and their transformative cultural impact.
Below, World History Edu presents some of the most famous trickster deities from around the world: Loki is a shape-shifting god known for his pranks, mischief, and being indirectly responsible for the death of Baldur, the god of light. Image: Loki in Norse Mythology.
Tricksters are among the most entertaining characters in world mythology. Usually male, they delight in breaking rules, boasting, and playing tricks on both humans and gods. Most tricksters are shape-changers who can take any form, though they often appear as animals.
1. Loki – Norse Trickster God; 2. Eris – The Greek Goddess of Discord and Strife; 3. Monkey King – Chinese Trickster God; 4. Wisakedjak – The Clever Crane of Navajo Mythology; 5. Anansi – The African Spider God of Mischief; 6. Hermes – The Greek Trickster Messenger of the Gods; 7. Veles – The Slavic Underworld Trickster God; 8.