Illustration
Idun and the Apples, oil on canvas by J. Doyle Penrose, 1890.
Private collection.
Idunn was a Norse goddess who was a guardian of the fruit (usually given as apples) that kept the gods of Asgard eternally young. For this reason, she was kidnapped by a giant named Þjazi who desired the eternal youth of gods. When she was kidnapped, the gods began to age and her rescue from the realm of Jotunheim (the location of giants) was of the utmost importance. Finally, she was released by the trickster Loki. From that time gods could enjoy youth till the times of the Ragnarök.
License & Copyright
Based on Wikipedia content that has been reviewed, edited, and republished.
Original image by J. Doyle Penrose. Uploaded by Celina Bebenek, published on 09 September 2021. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Public Domain. This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.
Related Images
Norse Goddess Idunn (Ydun)
Bragi Playing the Harp, Idunn Standing Behind Him
Basket of Apples by Cézanne
Giant Thiassi Kidnapping Idunn
Apples & Grapes in a Basket by Sisley
Idunn and Loki
Cite This Work
APA Style
Penrose, J. D. (2021, September 09). Idun and the Apples of Eternal Youth. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14598/idun-and-the-apples-of-eternal-youth/
Chicago Style
Penrose, J. Doyle. "Idun and the Apples of Eternal Youth." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified September 09, 2021. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14598/idun-and-the-apples-of-eternal-youth/.
MLA Style
Penrose, J. Doyle. "Idun and the Apples of Eternal Youth." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 09 Sep 2021. Web. 21 Feb 2025.
