Abduction Of Idun, Goddess-Keeper Of Golden Juvenile Apples In Norse Mythology

A. Sutherland  - AncientPages.com - Loki, in Norse mythology, is an elusive, malevolent god destined to be the gods' adversary at Ragnarok, and yet, a constant companion to them, especially to Odin and Thor.

Thiazzi in eagle disguise, and Idun - Illustration by Harry George Theaker for Children's Stories from the Northern Legends by M. Dorothy Belgrave and Hilda Hart, 1920. Public Domain

Loki plays an essential role in countless Norse myths. In one of them, Loki is seriously involved in the kidnapping of Idun, the guardian of juvenile apples that bring back youth to the Aesir gods.

Idun, a young goddess and wife to Bragi, was most probably a popular individual among the Aesir gods. However, she is only mentioned in two sources.

One is the Poetic Edda,  a collection of Old Norse poems preserved in the Icelandic medieval manuscript Codex Regius. Another is the 13th-century Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson.

The only surviving myth about Idun is about her kidnapping by Thiazzi, the frost giant and father of Skadi, goddess of destruction, winter, hunters, and skiers. Thiazzi lived in Jötunheimr (Jotunheim) and, like his brothers, always wanted to defeat the gods. They attempted to defeat them in an open battle, but he decided to deprive them of eternal youth.

For the gods, Idun's disappearance became fatal. She and her apples kept them young forever, but they quickly became old and powerless without them.

Someone had seen the trickster god Loki with Idun go into a forest, and then she vanished, so the gods had to act fast and find her as soon as possible.

According to Snorri, the great god Odin, his brother Hoenir, the god of silence, and Loki went to explore. When they became hungry, they killed an ox, built a fire, and cooked the meat. But no matter what they did, the meat remained raw and not fit to be eaten. Suddenly, a huge eagle landed on a tree nearby and said that he would make their fire burn like a furnace to cook the meat if only he could have a piece of food.

Thiazzi carries Loki away. Rydberg, Viktor. 1906. Teutonic Mythology Vol. I. Facing page 174. Public Domain.

The gods agreed, and the meat immediately began to be roasted before their eyes and was soon ready. The eagle was the first to take his share, and even many more pieces. Loki, in anger, grabbed a thick stick trying to hit the bird, but the eagle caught it with her sharp, strong claws and flew to the clouds, dragging the fire god behind him.

This terrifying journey in the air frightened Loki, and he begged for mercy. When Loki promised to deliver Idunn and her apples of youth to him,  the eagle finally threw him down to the ground.

"My brothers are stupid; they are trying to defeat the gods in open battle. I decided to deprive them of eternal youth, so go Loki now and bring me Idun," the giant eagle said.

Why did Thiazzi want to take golden apples from the gods? Did the giants also desire to taste the apples of eternal youth?

In Greek mythology, the famous Garden of the Hesperides is full of magical apples, guaranteeing immortality. Unfortunately, these apples belonged to the gods. Many attempts were made to steal these precious apples by mortals, but the gift of immortality always belonged to deities, not kings or nobles.

Cunning Loki Can't Break The Oath

Loki now knew that the eagle was Thiazzi in disguise. He was in trouble and knew he would pay for his evil deed. Usually, Loki himself was the one who did tricks on the gods and people.

The Aesir would undoubtedly take revenge on him for the abduction of Braga's wife and apples of eternal youth. But he was also aware he could not break the oath.

Tiatzi helped Loki to reach Bifrost, the rainbow bridge, connecting Asgard, the world of the Aesir tribe of gods, with the world of humanity, Midgard. Loki hurried to the palace of the god of poets, where he found Idun.

"Come with me, Idun," the cunning Loki said.

Odin, Hoenir, and Loki observed by the giant Thiazzi disguised as an eagle. Illustration in The Olafur Brynjulfsson Edda 1760

"In one forest, on earth, I saw an apple tree on which apples grow even better than yours." "Take your apples with you, so that you can compare which ones are better."

At first, somewhat skeptical, Idun did not want to believe that there were better apples than hers somewhere. Unaware of Loki's deception, Idun immediately took a basket with apples of eternal youth and followed Loki to the forest. As soon as she reached the edge of the forest, a giant eagle flew at her and carried her basket to the Thrymheim fortress. Then, he placed Idun in the highest tower.

No matter how cunning Loki was, his trick did not remain a secret for long. Heimdallr (Heimdall), the god who 'illuminates the world,' saw how the trickster god left Asgard with Idun. Loki had to confess his guilt.

"You deserve to die!" - Bragi shouted after listening to his story. "You twice deserve to die because you not only betrayed my wife to the giant but also deprived us of all her apples, without which we will soon perish."

But the mighty Odin had another idea.

Loki Changes Idun Into A Nut

"Loki's death will not help us." Let it be better he will smooth out his guilt and take away Idun from Thiazi. He's so cunning that he can do it better than any of us," he said. And so it happened.

Having no choice, Loki borrowed the falcon plumage of Freya and flew off to Thiazi's castle. The giant was out fishing, so Loki changed Idun into a nut and flew off with it in his claws. Soon, Thiazi discovered the loss and started in pursuit, and Loki flew into Asgard only just in time.

Once again, the god Heimdall saw Loki with Idun, but they were on their way to Asgard this time. As soon as Loki had flown over the wall, the gods set on fire at the gates of Asgard. Thiazzi could not pass through the flames. The flames enveloped him, and he fell to the ground.

Skadi Demands Penalty For Her Father's Death

Thjazi was one of the most formidable of the giants. His daughter, Skadi, came to the Aesir gods to demand a penalty for her father's death. She was only permitted to choose a husband among the gods, so she married Njord, a Vanir god of the seas, fishermen, ships, and prosperity.

Odin took Thjazi's two eyes and tossed them into the heavens, where they became two stars.

Updated on December 3, 2023

Written by – A. Sutherland  - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

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