An Ancient Scandinavian Myth

“The Apples of Iduna” a myth about the coming of spring, was a favorite with the Northmen.  They believed that the long, cold winter was caused by the triumph of the giants of Jotunheim over the gods.  When spring returned, the gods had prevailed.

In the shining city of Asgard, where the gods dwelt, lived Bragi, the god of poetry and eloquence, and his lovely wife, Iduna, goddess of youth.  In the light of her warm smile, no one could grow old, and the trees in her garden were always in bloom.  Best of all, she had a magic casket filled with wonderful apples, which the Fates had allowed her to pluck from the Tree of Life.  They had the power of giving youth to all who ate them.

One day Loki, the mischief-making god, fell into the power of the storm giant, Thiassi.  To gain his freedom, he promised to help Thiassi steal Iduna and her apples.  He persuaded Iduna to accompany him to a grove where he declared there were apples finer than hers.

When they left the walls of Asgard, a bitter wind blew and the wings of an enormous eagle darkened the sky.  This was the giant, Thiassi.  Swooping down, he seized Iduna in his claws and bore her far away to the frozen land of the giants.

In Asgard, the trees turned red and brown, the birds grew silent, and snow fell in the streets.  The sun pales and dwindles and sank so low it nearly fell off the rim of the world.  The gods grew old and gray.

At length, the angry gods found that Loki had lured Iduna from Asgard.  He promised to undo the harm he had wrought.  Borrowing falcon plumage from Freya, the goddess of love, he flew to the bitter north and found Iduna imprisoned in a rock cave by the frozen sea.

Changing her into a sparrow, he set out with Iduna and her apples clutched in his falcon claws.  The storm giant flew swiftly in pursuit.  The gods, watching from the walls of Asgard, built a mighty fire.  As Loki and Iduna cleared the walls, the fire flamed high, blinding the giant eagle.  He fell within the walls and was killed.  With Iduna back in Asgard, the earth burst the bonds of winter, trees budded, flowers bloomed, and the gods grew young and vigorous by eating the magic apples again.