Idun(a)

   The story of the Apples of Iduna which preserved the life and health of the Aesir in Nordic myth may be a reverse side of the stealing of the Apples of the Hesperides by Hercules. They also seem to have formed part of the treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann, for whom they were stolen by the sons of Tuirenn. The tale of their theft, as told in the Conversations of Bragi, is as follows: Loki was kidnapped by Thiassi and obtained his release by promising to deliver Iduna into the hands of Thiassi. He enticed Iduna into the forest by saying he knew where she could obtain better apples than her own. On entering the forest she was kidnapped by Thiassi. Without their daily supply of apples the Aesir grew old and grey, and it was only when they were at the point of death that they discovered what had become of Iduna. Under threat of punishment Loki was ordered to bring her back and, making use of the feather cloak of Freyja, he flew to the home of Thiassi and rescued Iduna. He was pursued by Thiassi to the outskirts of Asgard, where he was killed by the Aesir. Iduna, about whom little is known except for her guardianship of the apples, was the daughter of a dwarf, the wife of Bragi, and one of the Asynjor.