Keeper of the golden apples of youth
The goddess who guards the golden apples of youth, wife of the poetry god Bragi. That the gods stay forever young rests wholly on the apples in her casket. Should those apples fall into a giant’s hands, the gods would swiftly age — her safety is tied directly to the survival of all Asgard.
Held hostage by the giant Þjazi, Loki was forced to lure Iðunn and her golden apples out of the realm of the gods. The moment she was gone, the gods’ hair went white and their strength failed. They forced Loki to make amends: borrowing Freyja’s falcon-cloak, he took the shape of a falcon, turned Iðunn into a nut, and flew her back in his claws — youth regained, and Asgard spared.
Below are how modern works borrow or reinterpret this name or story — not the original material. The two differ, so keep them apart.