Iðunn’s Golden Apples of Youth

In Norse mythology, Iðunn is described as providing the gods apples that grant them eternal youthfulness.

A number of theories surround Iðunn, including potential links to fertility, and her potential origin in Proto-Indo-European religion.

The name Iðunn has been variously explained as meaning “ever young”, “rejuvenator”, or “the rejuvenating one”. As the modern English alphabet lacks the eth (ð) character, Iðunn is sometimes anglicized as Idun, Idunn or Ithun.

19th-century scholar Jacob Grimm proposed a potential etymological connection to the idisi. Grimm states that “with the original form idis the goddess Idunn may possibly be connected. Grimm further states, that Iðunn may have been known with another name, and that “Iðunn would seem by Saem to be an Elvish word, but we do not hear of any other name for the goddess.

The thirteenth century Prose Edda, cites that Loki was once coerced by the jötunn Þjazi to lure Iðunn out of Asgard and into a wood, promising her interesting apples. Þjazi, transforms into an eagle, plucks Iðunn from the wood and takes her to his home. Iðunn’s absence causes the gods to grow old and grey, and they realize that Loki is responsible for her disappearance. Loki promises to return her and, in the form of a falcon, finds her alone at Þjazi’s home. He turns her into a nut and takes her back to Asgard. After Þjazi finds that Iðunn is gone, he turns into an eagle and furiously chases after Loki. The gods build a pyre in Asgard and, after a sudden stop by Loki, Þjazi’s feathers catch fire, he falls, and the gods kill him.

Loki and Idun. Loki and Idun (1911) by John Bauer

 

 

Idunn 1858 Bronze statue by Herman Wilheim Bissen

 

 

Source & References:

•  Simek, Rudolf.  (2007) translated by Angela Hall. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. D.S. Brewer ISBN 0-85991-513-1  
•  Turville-Petre, (1964). Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
• Lee M. Hollander  second edition @1990  The Poetic Edda. ISBN 978-0-292-76499-6