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Classical Mythology Greek and Roman myths, gods, heroes, and epic tales Norse Mythology Vikings, Asgard, Ragnarok, and the nine realms Celtic Mythology Irish, Welsh, and Gaelic legends and folklore Arthurian Legends King Arthur, Camelot, the Round Table, and the Holy Grail Egyptian Mythology Pharaohs, pyramids, and ancient Nile deities Japanese Mythology Shinto gods, spirits, and legendary creatures Chinese Mythology Dragons, immortals, and celestial beings Aztec Mythology Mesoamerican gods, rituals, and creation myths Ancient Literature Classical texts, translations, and literary analysis
Greek Gods The Olympians, Titans, and primordial deities Roman Gods Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and the Roman pantheon Norse Gods Odin, Thor, Loki, and the Aesir and Vanir Egyptian Gods Ra, Osiris, Isis, Anubis, and more Celtic Gods The Tuatha Dé Danann and Celtic deities Aztec Gods Quetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, and Aztec deities Japanese Gods Amaterasu, Susanoo, and Shinto kami Chinese Gods Jade Emperor, Dragon Kings, and celestial beings View All 150+ Deities Browse the complete collection of mythological deities View all gods & deities
All Stories Browse 800+ mythology and history stories Characters Profiles of 67 mythological heroes, gods, and villains Mythology Stories Ancient myths and legends retold History Stories Historical tales from ancient civilizations Religion & Culture Religious traditions and cultural beliefs View all stories
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  1. Norse Mythology
    Asgard Valhalla Norse Sagas About Norse Mythology Facts and Figures Genealogy Bibliography
  2. Asgard
    Aesir Vanir Teutonic Deities Giants Of Dwarves and Elves Monsters
  3. Aesir
    Odin Ve (Lodur) Vili (Hœnir) Thor Tyr Njörd Freyr (Lord) Heimdall Loki Ull Bragi Forseti Vidar Vali Balder Höd Hermod Mimir Magni and Modi Frigg Freyja (Lady) Sif Idun Jörd (Fjörgyn) Rind Gefjon Fulla Thrud Sol and Moon Other Asyniur Aegir Ran Nott Hel Norns
  4. 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 is no mention of even Idun's parents. It is for this reason that there is a possibility that Idun was originally a Vanir goddess, but became an Asynia (Aesir goddess) when she married Bragi, the god of poetry.

Idun

Idun
Arthur Rackham
Illustration, 1910

One story was that the giant Thiassi, builder of Valhalla, demanded from Loki the goddess Idun and her golden apples as payment. Loki abducted Idun and stole her basket containing apples for Thiassi. Without the apples, the Aesir began to age. During the council, the gods compelled Loki to bring Idun and the apples back.

Loki turned himself into a falcon and flew to Thiassi's home. Loki waited until Thiassi was distracted before entering her home. He changed Idun into a nut before fleeing back to Asgard. Idun returned with the apples, and the gods were restored to their youthful looks.

See the Apples of Youths in Of Thor and Giants.

Related Information

Name

Idun, Idunn, Iðunn, Iduna – "rejuvenator".

Related Articles

Bragi, Loki.

Apples of Youths.

Jimmy Joe Timeless Myths

By Jimmy Joe

Aesir:

  • • Odin
  • • Ve (Lodur)
  • • Vili (Hœnir)
  • • Thor
  • • Tyr
  • • Njörd
  • • Freyr (Lord)
  • • Heimdall
  • • Loki
  • • Ull
  • • Bragi
  • • Forseti
  • • Vidar
  • • Vali
  • • Balder
  • • Höd
  • • Hermod
  • • Mimir
  • • Magni and Modi
  • • Frigg
  • • Freyja (Lady)
  • • Sif
  • • Idun
  • • Jörd (Fjörgyn)
  • • Rind
  • • Gefjon
  • • Fulla
  • • Thrud
  • • Sol and Moon
  • • Other Asyniur
  • • Aegir
  • • Ran
  • • Nott
  • • Hel
  • • Norns
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 ...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
Apples of Youth

Apples of Youth

Abduction of Idun SkadiAbduction 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
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
Thiassi

Thiassi

A frost-giant. Thiassi was the eldest son of Olvaldi or Allvaldi, and the brother of Idi and Gang. His father was very rich and lived in Thrymheim. At his death, the land was divided between the three brothers. Thiassi had the ability to turn hims...

August 27th, 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 calle...

July 23rd, 1999 • 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
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 k...

July 23rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Thrud

Thrud

Goddess of power and strength. Thrud was the daughter of Thor and Sif. Thor prevented the marriage between Thrud and a dwarf named Alvis; her father delayed the wedding before turning the dwarf into stone.

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. Origi...

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 di...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
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