Star Wars: The Loth-Wolf, and Wolf Symbolism
A closer look at the mythology behind Dave Filoni’s mystical Loth-Wolf…
In Star Wars Rebels “Flight of the Defender”, we finally got to see our long-awaited Loth-Wolf! Filoni has said on numerous occasions that he loves wolves and intended to include them in The Clone Wars before it’s cancellation. No doubt, this particular wolf is an entity or individual we have seen before. Knowing who or what will have to wait. However, sometimes the best way to see the future is to look to the past.
The wolf has been a symbol in almost every culture in the world. From southern Africa, to South America, to the Arctic, everyone has a “wolf story”. Perhaps by looking at a few, we can grasp what might be coming for our wolf.
To the Japanese, the wolf was seen as a protector. They kept boar and deer away from crops. In the Finnic traditions, they were associated with fear and destruction. Rewards were even offered to those who killed them, leading the wolf to near extinction in some areas. In the arctic, wolves were revered and their hunting skills replicated by the native peoples. In America, the wolf had meaning from one coast to another. It was seen as one of the most powerful animals and is considered by some tribes to be the creator. It was held in high esteem for its dedication to its pack, as everyone was expected to be loyal to their people. In Mexico, a dog guides souls to the other side, and a dog figure is included in Dia de los Muertos art.
No culture on earth has more wolf lore than the Norse. The Norse people had many named wolves that had special meaning to them. One of the most popularly known is Fenrir, son of Loki. Fenrir was huge and was fated to be the end of Odin during Ragnarok. To prevent this, he was captured and bound by the gods, managing to bite off the hand of Týr. Geri and Freki were wolves that were the companions of Odin and accompanied him on many adventures.
I believe the wolf, like the cats, will also represent a change in Ezra. The lothcats represent Ezra’s new attitude. He trusts them and he and the cats are open to each other. They represent tranquility and peace in war time and tend to be a calming presence. What do we know about our Loth-Wolf? We know he can be ridden, like Fenrir. We see his breath can put people to sleep, which is cool.
The most important piece of news is he can talk (sort of). The last word he says? Doom. Whose doom? Are we dealing with an entity that can see the future, or is the wolf guessing? I have my thoughts, but that’s for another article…
May The Force Be With You
