Norse Mythology

Idun is the Norse goddess of spring and rejuvenation, she is married to Bragi, the god of poetry but most importantly, she is the keeper of the golden apples of immortality. The Norse Gods are not immortal and rely on these apples keep them young, beautiful, strong and to maintain their powers.

THE KIDNAPPING OF IDUN

Once when Odin, Loki and Hoenir were on a journey far from Asgard, while trekking through the mountains they became too hungry to continue and so stopped to set up camp. Loki managed to kill an Ox and Odin and Hoenir built a fire. No matter how long they kept the ox on the fire, the meat would not cook and remained raw. The gods were perplexed until they heard an eagle in the sky tell them that he had put a curse on the feast and the ox would not cook unless they agreed to allow the eagle to take a share of the meat. The gods reluctantly agreed and the eagle swooped down and took a hefty share of the bounty. Loki was outraged at the audacity of the eagle and felt that it had broken their agreement, so he took a branch and swiped at the eagle. The eagle grabbed one end of the branch and launched into the air with Loki still attached to the other end. While airborne the eagle revealed his true identity to be the giant Thjazi, fearing for his life, Loki made a deal with the giant to let him go, under the condition that Loki would bring Thjazi Idun and her golden apples of immortality.

When back in Asgard, Loki approached Idun and told her that he had found fruits even more magical than hers and tricked her into following him into the forest, where Thjazi in eagle form was waiting. Thjazi took Idun in his talons and left for his fortress in Jotenheim.

As time passed in Asgard all the gods were beginning to get old and weak without Idun’s apples, they grew grey and weary. They summoned a committee to try and ascertain what had happened to Idun, and it came to light that she had last been seen leaving Asgard with