Iðunn

Iðunn

goddess of youth & beauty

Iðunn is a goddess associated with youth, beauty, and renewal. She is one of the lesser-known gods but played a vital role in the lives of the Aesir, the pantheon of Norse gods.

Iðunn was responsible for keeping the golden apples of immortality, which were said to keep the gods young and vibrant. Her name means "ever young" in Old Norse, and she was known for her beauty and her ability to restore youthfulness to those who ate the apples.

According to the myth, Loki once tricked Iðunn into leaving Asgard, the home of the gods, and then stole the apples. As a result, the gods began to age rapidly, and they became weak and feeble. In order to restore their youth and vitality, they sent Loki to retrieve Iðunn and the apples. After some difficulty, Loki succeeded in rescuing Iðunn and returning the apples to the gods, and their youthfulness was restored.

Iðunn is sometimes also associated with fertility and the renewal of the land. She was sometimes portrayed as a symbol of springtime and the return of new growth after the winter months.

In Norse art, Iðunn is often depicted as a youthful and beautiful goddess, holding a basket of golden apples. Her role as a keeper of youth and vitality has made her an important figure in Norse mythology and a symbol of the eternal cycle of life, death, and renewal.