Norse Goddess Iðunn

Iðunn is this month’s DOTM in the Norse Pagan Chatroom, so I wanted to write a blog about her as the wiki we have doesn’t have much. I am borrowing the same writing script as the blog post I did for Lady Makaria.

Basic Info

Lady Iðunn belongs to a type of Norse deities called the Aesir. She role, based on a poem Haustlöng and the Prose Eddas, is that she is a bearer of the infamous apples that grant immortality. These apples are what helps the gods retain their youth, another hint to her association of youth and rejuvenation.

:man: ‍ :woman: ‍ :girl: Parents: none that we know of

:woman: 🧑Siblings: none that we know of

:couple: Partner/Lover/s: wife of Bragi, the god of poetry

☠Goddess of: spring, youth, rejuvenation

⚜Symbols: apples, springs

UPG: besides those two, since she is known for healing, I would associate any healing symbols to her

:art: Colors: green

UPG: other colors could involve gold, red, and various shades of blue

Name and Etymology

(I’ll be copying and pasting this information straight from the source I’m using)

The name Idunn (Old Norse Iðunn) has several variants, including “Idun,” “Idunna,” and “Ithun.” Different scholars have delved into its etymology, suggesting that her name might carry meanings such as “ever young,” “rejuvenator,” or “the rejuvenating one.”

Delving deeper into the Old Norse roots of “Iðunn,” we find intriguing components that shed light on its etymology. The prefix “Ið-” is tied to the Old Norse term “ið,” denoting “deed” or “action,” suggesting activity or a designated task. On the other hand, the suffix “-unn” is prevalent in Old Norse feminine naming conventions.

Relationships

She is the wife of Bragi, and while their relationship isn’t well known, it is believed that they represent a harmonious marriage. Other relationships that Lady Iðunn has is being the keeper of apples and gifting eternal youth to the gods.

Appearance

She is depicted with flowing golden colored hair or brown hair. She may also wear a veil of some sort. It is unknown how she dresses, though. She is depicted as a radiant young woman who is always carrying apples.

Personality

Based on the myths that we have, especially the Lokasenna, we can glean that gee personality is often sweet and gentle. Like a caring big sister or a mother type. She often tries to keep the peace between others, especially between Bragi and Loki in the Lokasenna.

Powers

She had the power of rejuvenation, so she is often called upon for healing. She gifts the gods eternal youth from her apples that she cares for. With her association with springs, one could see some sort of water power associated with her.

Sites and/or Temples

There are no known sites or temples associated with her or dedicated to her. If you want to set up an altar, you could do so by an apple tree or a natural spring. You could also create a water feature in your yard.

Final words

I hope you liked my post on Lady Iðunn. I honestly thought she was just the goddess of apples or immortality, so I didn’t know she was a goddess of eternal youth, rejuvenation and springs.

References

~Picture: Niles Blommér, via public domain in Wikipedia Commons

~ Norse-mythology

~ Vikingr