Idun was a lesser-known goddess from Norse mythology but nevertheless, a very important
one. She was the keeper of the mysterious fruits that were eaten regularly by the Gods,
fruits that enabled them to retain their youth and ward off the process of aging. So as you
can imagine, it wasn’t a particularly happy situation when Idun was kidnapped… Let’s
dive into the story. Three of the Aesir gods, Odin, Loki, and Hoenir,
were on a journey that took them through the desolate mountains far from Asgard. Food was
scarce in this uninviting region, so when the travellers came upon a herd of oxen, they
slaughtered one for their dinner. When they put the meat over their fire, however,
it didn’t cook, no matter how long they left it there. Perplexed by this, they heard
a voice addressing them from above. Looking up, they saw a very large eagle perched on
a nearby branch. “It is I,” he said, “who, by my magic, prevent your catch from cooking.
But if you will give me my fill of the meat, then I shall release the remainder from my
spell.” The gods, though irritated, agreed, and the eagle flew down and took for himself
the choicest portions of the ox. Loki thought this to be beyond the terms of
their bargain, and, in anger, took up a sturdy branch and lunged at the eagle. The eagle
snatched the branch in his talons, and, with a bewildered Loki still clinging to the other
end, flew up high into the sky. The terrified god begged the eagle to release him, but the
eagle – who was none other than Thjazi (pronounced “THYAH-zee”) the giant in disguise – refused
to do so until Loki swore an oath to bring him Idun and her fruits.
When the trio made it back to Asgard at the conclusion of their travels, Loki went to
Idun and told her that he had found fruits even more marvellous than her own growing
in a forest beyond the walls of Asgard, and that she should follow him there and bring
her own apples for comparison. Idun followed the trickster, and when she reached the wood
she was borne up by Thjazi in his eagle form, and taken away to the giant’s abode. This
place was called Thrymheim or Thunder-Home, and was situated in the highest mountain peaks,
whose icy towers growled down at the fertile fields below.
In Idun’s absence, the gods and goddesses felt old age creeping up on them. Their skin
became wrinkled, their hair greyed, and their vigor waned. When they assembled together
and asked one another about the circumstances under which Idun was last seen, it was reported
that the last sighting of her had been with Loki as the two left Asgard together. They
immediately seized Loki and threatened him will all manner of pains if he didn’t tell
them what had happened to the fair goddess. Loki spilled his story, and the gods informed
him that if he couldn’t rescue Idun from Thjazi, he would be put to death.
Freya lent him her hawk feathers, with which one can shift his or her shape into that of
a hawk, and he flew off to Jotunheim, the homeland of the giants, within which Thrymheim
was located. When he came to Thrymheim, he found, to his great delight, that Thjazi had
gone out to sea to fish, leaving Idun home alone. Without losing a minute, Loki turned
the goddess into a nut and sped away with her in his talons.
When Thjazi returned and found his prize missing, he assumed his eagle form and filled the air
with the thunderous beats of his wings on his way toward Asgard in pursuit of Loki.
By the time the god was in sight of his home, the giant was close behind him and furiously
closing the gap. When Loki’s companions caught sight of the chase, they built a pile
of kindling around their fortress. Loki, still clutching Idun, made it across the barrier.
And then the gods lit the fire, and it exploded so rapidly that Thjazi didn’t have time
to turn around before entering the flames. And that was the end of his flight.
Once more, the devilish Loki almost brings ruin to Asgard and is only just spared a gruesome
death for his mischief. The trickster God, truly a name well earned.
With Idun safely returned, youth and vigor was returned to the pantheon of Gods and Goddesses.