LOKE, in Mythology, the name of one of the deities
of the northern nations, answering to the Arimannus
among the Persians, whom they represent as at enmity
both with gods and men, and the author of all the
evils which desolate the universe. Loke is described in
the Edda as producing the great serpent which encircles
the world; which seems to have been intended as an
emblem of corruption or sin: he also gives birth to
Hela or death, the queen of the infernal regions; and
also to the wolf Fenris, that monster who is to encounter
the gods and destroy the world.
LOKMAN the WISE, an eminent philosopher among
the Easterns. The Arabians say he was the son
of Baura, the son or grandson of a sister or aunt of Job.
He was an Ethiopian, and a slave for some time. It is
related that he was born in the time of David, and lived
till the age of the prophet Jonas. Some suppose him
to have been the same with Æsop the mythologist: and
indeed we find in the parables or apologues of Lok-
man in Arabic, many particulars that are seen in Æ-
sop's fables; so that it is not easy to determine whether
the Greek or the Arabian are the originals. He is said
to have been deformed in his person; but that this de-
fect was sufficiently made up by the perfections of his
mind. Some pieces of his are extant; and he was look-
ed upon as so excellent a person, that Mahomet has in-
serted a chapter of the Koran, called after his name, in
which he introduces God as saying, "We heretofore
bestowed wisdom on Lokman."—It is related that he
got his liberty on the following occasion. His master,
having given him a bitter melon to eat, he ate it all.
His master, surprised at his exact obedience, asked,
How it was possible for him to eat such a nauseous
fruit? He answered, "I have received so many favours
from you, that it is no wonder I should once in my life
eat a bitter melon from your hand." This generous
answer of the slave struck the master to such a degree,
that he immediately gave him his liberty. M. Galland
translated all the fables of Lokman, and Bidpai or Pil-
pay, a brahm philosopher, which were published at
Paris in 1724.