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Aphrodite Apollo Ares Artemis Athena Atlas Coeus Crius Cronus Demeter Dionysus Gaia Hades Hephaestus Hera Hermes Hestia Hyperion Iapetus Mnemosyne Oceanus Phobos Phoebe Poseidon Prometheus Rhea Tethys Themis Uranus Zeus
Bacchus Ceres Diana Juno Jupiter Mars Mercury Minerva Neptune Pluto Venus Vesta Vulcan
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Alfheim Baldur Freya Freyr Frigg Heimdallr Helheim Idun Jotunheim Loki Nerthus Njord Odin Thor Tyr
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Amaterasu Ame no Uzume Benzaiten Bishamonten Daikokuten Ebisu Fujin Fukurokuju Inari Izanagi Kagutsuchi Raijin Susanoo Tsukuyomi
Caishen Cangjie Dragon King Eight Immortals Erlang Shen Fuxi Guanyin Hou Yi Huxian Jade Emperor King Yama Leizi Lu-ban Mazu Nezha Nuwa Pangu Shennong Sun Wukong Xiwangmu Yue Lao Zhong Kui
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  2. Norse Gods
    Alfheim Baldur Freya Freyr Frigg Heimdallr Helheim Idun Jotunheim Loki Nerthus Njord Odin Thor Tyr
  3. Idun

Idun

Idun: The Goddess with Magic Apples

Idun, the goddess of youthfulness and fertility, was one of the most interesting goddesses in Norse mythology. She was the one responsible for keeping the gods looking ‘young’ with her special apples. Those who consumed them would be granted youth once more. Read on to find out about her famous abduction by a giant.

Idun, the goddess of fertility

Who Was Idun in Norse Mythology?

What set of myths would be complete without a goddess of youth? Idun took that place as the Norse goddess of youth in mythology. She was not only a goddess of youthfulness but also fertility since she was attached to the young. Her very name meant something like ‘young’ or ‘the rejuvenator’ or even ‘ever-young.’

Idun had two main things that gave her fame: her apples and her abduction by a giant. Idun had apples of youth, that if you consumed them, would keep you looking and feeling young. So, the gods often called upon her whenever they started to feel or look old, and she would bring them another batch of youthful apples. They would rejuvenate, hence the name she was given.

She would carry these apples in an ash box called an eski. She was married to a bard or poet in Asgard. Yet despite her abduction and her apples, there doesn’t seem to be too much else known about this goddess.

Idun’s Family: How Was Idun Born?

The only thing we know about Idun is that she was married. We don’t know about her beginnings, her parents, or her other family. She was married to a bard or poet named Bragi. He served as the poet to the court at Asgard.

He was also the “voice” in some of the stories of the “Prose Edda.” This was written by a 13th-century Icelandic scholar named Snorri Sturluson. We don’t know too much else about Bragi and Idun or what their relationship was like.

Myths of Idun, the Youthful Goddess

Sadly, we don’t know much about the beautiful goddess who could give beauty to others. But her story with Thjazi the giant is interesting, indeed.

It All Started With a Talking Eagle

One day, the gods Odin, Hoenir, and Loki were out traveling together, and they got hungry. Odin was the chief of the gods, or the All-Father, and Loki was a trickster god. Hoenir was also a deity and a friend of theirs but from a different tribe of gods. The three of them were traveling through the mountains of Asgard, and they saw a herd of oxen.

So, being hungry, they took one, and they cooked it, hoping to ease their hunger pangs. As they started to cook, they thought it was working, but it wasn’t. Unbeknownst to them, there was a talking eagle who used magic to stop the fire from heating and cooking the meat. It happened a few times before the gods became infuriated that it wasn’t working properly.

It was then that the eagle made his presence known. He flew down and said that he wanted his own portion, and if he was given it, then he would allow them to cook the meat. The gods agreed, and the bird joined them, hopeful to share a freshly cooked meal.

Idun’s Apples and Loki’s Tricks

Golden apple of Idun

Loki was always up for doing all kinds of tricks, and this moment was no exception. He waited until the bird flew down towards them, and he took up a stick and tried to hit it. The eagle was too clever, and he bit onto the stick and flew away. Loki was too slow to let go, and he was stuck, flying off with the eagle, fearful for his life.

Eventually, the eagle got high enough that Loki begged to be let down safely. Right then, the eagle revealed himself to be a giant named Thjazi. This giant could magically transform himself into any animal he liked. He said that he would let Loki down, but he wanted Idun and the apples for his own.

Loki said nothing to the other gods once he was brought down to the ground. The gods eventually returned home. Loki set about creating a trap for the goddess of youthfulness so that Thjazi could have her.

Idun and the Abduction

Loki planned his abduction of Idun, and he told her to come to a certain forest. It was there, he told her, that she could find a very rare fruit. Idun came, believing in Loki’s lies, and there she met Thjazi, but he was still in his eagle form. Idun was surprised when the eagle snatched her in its talons and flew away with her.

The eagle took Idun to his home, just as he’d hoped to do after plotting with Loki. After a while, the gods began to grow old, but they couldn’t find Idun to give them her apples. They were furious, and since they knew that Loki was the last one seen with her, they questioned him. He offered to go and get her if he could have Frigg’s (Odin’s wife) secret cloak of falcon feathers which would render one invisible.

Loki found her in Thjazi’s home, and he transformed her into a nut and flew away with her all the way to Asgard. But on the way, Thjazi realized what had happened, and furious, he chased after the pair of them all the way to Asgard’s gates. The gods saw what was happening, and they created a huge fire. Loki was able to steer clear of it, but Thjazi flew through it, and his eagle form was burned to a crisp.

What Was Idun’s Symbol?

Idun’s symbol is mainly her youth-giving apples. But related to those, her other symbols could be things related to life, youth, and spring such as blossoms, fruits, trees, and the color gold.

Idun in Pop Culture

Idun’s name appears in the video game “God of War,” and you can use her apples to gain health and vitality.

Conclusion

Idun with her magic apples

Idun was a young, beautiful goddess who is one of the most interesting in Norse mythology. Take a look at the main points that were covered in the article above.

  • Idun was the goddess of youthfulness and fertility

  • She was young and beautiful, and she had special apples which could give renewed youth to whoever consumed them

  • The gods would often call upon her to keep themselves looking and feeling young with her apples

  • Her name meant something like “young” or “the rejuvenator”

  • Idun would carry her apples in an ash box called an ‘eski’

  • Despite her importance to the gods, we don’t really know much about her beginnings

  • All we know about her family was that she was born to a poet named Bragi

  • He served as the court poet in the court of Asgard

  • Idun’s most famous story, besides the apples, is that she was abducted by a giant named Thjazi

  • Three gods, Odin, Hoenir, and Loki were all traveling through the mountains of Asgard

  • They were getting hungry, and once they came upon a herd of oxen, they took one and tried to cook it

  • But as they tried, the meat would not get cooked. No matter how long they heated it, it didn’t cook

  • They were getting frustrated, and they didn’t realize what was going on

  • An eagle appeared, which was the animal transformation of Thjazi the giant, and he flew down and spoke to the three gods

  • He told them that if they gave him a piece of the ox meat, he would allow the meat to cook

  • They agreed, and as soon as the eagle got close, Loki had a plan to take a branch and hit him with it

  • But the eagle was too quick and Loki too slow

  • He didn’t get there in time, and the eagle grabbed onto Loki, carrying him up into the sky

  • Loki got so high that he begged for mercy. The eagle only agreed to let him go if he could get Idun and her apples brought to him

  • Loki agreed, and the eagle let him go

  • Loki set about his plans, and he lured Idun to the woods where Thjazi took her and her apples to his home

  • The gods began to look and feel old, and since they knew Loki was the last one seen with her, they questioned him

  • He offered to go get her, and he used Frigg’s feather cloak to find her

  • He grabbed her from Thjazi’s home, and he hurried back to Asgard

  • Thjazi chased after them, and the gods set a fire just outside the gates

  • Loki and Idun made it through, but Thjazi was burned and killed in the fire

  • Her symbols were apples, trees, spring, blossoms, and the color gold

  • Idun appears in the video game “God of War” because you can eat her apples to gain health

Idun is a fascinating goddess because she holds such importance to the Norse gods, and yet we only know one story about her. It wasn’t only the gods who wanted her, but a giant took her to always have access to her youth-giving apples. It would be a strange experience for a goddess to be bandied about by other deities who were always seeking youth. But who doesn’t want the gift of eternal youth?

By Timeless Myths

Norse Gods:

  • • Alfheim
  • • Baldur
  • • Freya
  • • Freyr
  • • Frigg
  • • Heimdallr
  • • Helheim
  • • Idun
  • • Jotunheim
  • • Loki
  • • Nerthus
  • • Njord
  • • Odin
  • • Thor
  • • Tyr
Idun

Idun

Goddess of youth and spring. Idun (Idunn) was the keeper of the golden apples of youth that kept the gods young and immortal. In the Lokasenna , Loki accused Idun of sleeping with her brother's killer. Who Idun's brother was, we don't know. There ...

July 23rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Apples of Youth

Apples of Youth

Abduction of Idun Skadi Abduction of Idun Odin was travelling with Loki and Haenir through the wilderness of mountains and woods, but had difficulty in finding food until they came across a herd of oxen. They slaughtered one of the oxen and set to...

September 10th, 2000 • Jimmy Joe
Freya

Freya

Freya: Get to Know the Desirable Goddess of Love and Lust Freya goddess of fertility was one of the foremost Norse goddesses in Norse mythology. She was also the Norse goddess of love , lust, beauty, and sex, and she was greatly desired by many of...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
Freyja

Freyja

Goddess of love, beauty, fertility, magic, war and death. Freyja was the daughter of Njörd (Njord) and Njörd's nameless sister (possibly Nertheus?). She was the sister of Freyr . Like her brother and father, she was originally a Vanir goddess, but...

July 23rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Bragi

Bragi

God of poetry. Bragi was the son of Odin and the giantess Gunnlod. Bragi married Idun , the goddess of spring and youth. Bragi was also the god of eloquence. Bragi was one of the speakers (the other was Aegir ) in the dialogue in Snorri's Edda cal...

July 23rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Frigg

Frigg

Frigg: Odin’s Queen Frigg, goddess of fertility, motherhood, and the home was mostly known for her role as Odin’s wife . Because she was his wife, she was the queen of the Norse world and the Aesir tribe of the Norse pantheon. Unfortunately, she d...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
Other Asyniur

Other Asyniur

The following Asyniur were mentioned by Snorri Sturluson in the Prose Edda. Not much else is known about these goddesses. Gerd A mountain giantess who married Freyr . known for her great beauty. For more detail, see Giants, Gerd . Saga Not much is...

July 23rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Frigg

Frigg

Goddess of marriage, fertility and childbirth. Frigg was the daughter of Fjorgvin. (Others said that she was the daughter of Jörd (Fjörgyn), goddess of the earth, and therefore Frigg was possibly the sister of Thor.) She lived in the hall Fensalir...

July 23rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Freyr

Freyr

God of light, rain, fertility and prosperity. Freyr was son of Njörd (Njord) and Njörd's nameless sister (possibly Nerthus ). Freyr was the brother of his twin sister Freyja . Like his father and sister, he was originally a Vanir, but he became an...

July 23rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Sif

Sif

Goddess of corn and fertility(?). She was a goddess with beautiful golden hair. Not much is known about Sif. Sif was possibly a Vanir goddess originally, like the goddess Freyja . Sif was the wife and consort of Thor . She had a son named Ull . Or...

July 23rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe

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