Which goddess is the keeper of the golden apples of youth? Iðunn is the Norse goddess who keeps the apples that preserve the gods’ youth.
In the Prose Edda, Iðunn is described as the keeper of apples associated with the Æsir’s continuing youthfulness. She is also identified as the wife of Bragi, the god linked with poetry and eloquence. The surviving myths treat her fruit as essential to the gods’ vitality rather than as an ordinary food.
The best-known story begins when the jötunn Þjazi forces Loki to lure Iðunn out of Asgard. Þjazi abducts her and takes the apples, after which the gods begin to age and grow grey. Loki eventually rescues her by transforming her into a nut and carrying her back in falcon form; the gods then kill Þjazi when he pursues them.
Modern retellings often call the apples “golden,” but the central medieval description emphasizes their power to maintain youth. Iðunn should not be confused with Freyja, Frigg, or Sif, who have different roles in Norse mythology.