Iduns

Idun is a figure in Norse mythology, primarily known for her role as the guardian of the golden apples of youth. According to the Prose Edda, a 13th-century collection of Norse myths compiled by Snorri Sturluson, Idun was the wife of Bragi, the god of poetry and one of the Einherjar, the warriors who dwell in Valhalla. Her most significant duty was to preserve the magical apples that kept the gods immortal and youthful. Without these apples, the gods would grow old and eventually perish.

The myth of Idun’s abduction is one of the few stories involving her. In the *Gylfaginning* section of the Prose Edda, Loki, the trickster god, tricks Idun into leaving her post by disguising himself as a woman and offering her a brooch. While she is away, he abducts her and takes her to Thrym, the giant king of Jotunheim. The gods, realizing the danger, send Thor to rescue her. Thor travels to Jotunheim, where he demands the return of Idun in exchange for the sun and moon, which the giant had stolen. After Thor defeats Thrym in battle, Idun is freed, and the gods return to Asgard, where she resumes her role as keeper of the apples.

Idun’s name is often linked to the Old Norse word *íðunn*, which may derive from *íðr*, meaning "delight" or "pleasure." Some scholars suggest a possible connection to the Germanic goddess Eostre, though this is speculative. Her mythological significance lies in her role as a symbol of immortality and the preservation of divine vitality. While she appears only briefly in Norse texts, her story highlights themes of deception, heroism, and the fragility of divine order.