Loki is beautiful, playful and cunning but also deceitful. He has a moody nature and breaks the norms of the Vikings as well as the laws of nature by changing sex and transforming himself into different animals. In the Nordic mythology the gods and giants kept an eye on each other and with one foot in both worlds, it was often Loki who both upset and re-established the balance of power.
Idun’s apples
Idun’s apples kept the gods eternally young and strong. The gods were not immortal, but thanks to her apples, they at least stopped aging.
One evening, Odin, Loki and Höner were sitting under a large tree by a fire. They had camped for the night after a long day and were feasting on a freshly slaughtered ox. The smell of the grilled meat spread through the forest and attracted both animals and other creatures. Unaware of being watched, the gods laughed and drank as the flames flickered in the darkness. One of those who watched them was the giant Tjatse who sat high above them, hidden among the branches in his eagle costume. He often flew over Asgaard and spied on the Aesir. Tjatse was also hungry and saw the chance to satisfy his hunger. With a quick movement he dived down from his hiding place and managed to snag some of the tastiest bits of the beef. Loki, who was known for his temper, became enraged and grabbed a large tree branch with which he struck the eagle. But he shouldn’t have done that. Tjatse, who was both strong and cunning, whipped out his mighty claws and grabbed Loki. With one powerful flap of his wings he then lifted off the ground and flew away with Loki high above the treetops. Loki’s body slammed against both trees and rocks and he whined loudly and begged to be put down. But the giant held him in a firm grip and said “I won’t let you go until you promise me something” Loki who was both shaken and scared listened carefully to Tjatse’s demands. During his visits to Asgaard, Tjatse had taken a liking to Idun and the giant wanted both her and her magic apples and Loki to help him with it. Loki realized he had little choice but to promise Tjatse to get his wish. He swore an oath that he would bring Idun to him and only then did the giant release his hold on him and let him fall to the ground. Bruised and dejected, Loki returned to Asgaard.
The next day he sought out Idun. She was just on her way to hand out her magic apples and Loki asked if he could accompany her. With a sly smile he told her about some strange apples he had seen deep in the forest that she should see. Maybe they were magical like hers. Idun’s curiosity was piqued and she let herself be enticed. But when they reached the remote place where the forest stood dense and dark, Tjatse was waiting in his eagle form. With his powerful claws, he seized Idun and carried her away, together with her basket full of her golden apples, to his abode in Trymheim.
Without Idun’s apples, the gods quickly began to age and weaken. The Aesir were not immortal, but the apples allowed them to remain forever young and strong. Now, however, they aged and withered at an alarming rate. The concern spread and a big ting was held. It soon became clear that Idun was last seen with Loki and it was obvious that he was behind Idun’s disappearance. Loki was given a choice, he had to bring Idun and her apples home again or he had to pay with his life.
Loki who was always quick in thinking came up with a plan. He sought out Freya and asked to borrow her falcon costume. In it, he could fly unnoticed into Trymheim and bring home Idun. When Loki arrived in Trymheim, he discovered that Tjatse was out fishing. He found Idun locked in a dark chamber and, to his relief, saw that the giant had not eaten all of her apples. Using a magical formula, Loki turned Idun into a small nut and flew home with her and her basket of apples in his beak. Tjatse who was now on his way back to his farm caught sight of them and even though Loki was disguised as a bird, he immediately recognized him and quickly followed him in his eagle cloak. They flew at breakneck speed but Loki had a head start and in Asgaard the gods had prepared. They had put long wood shavings by the walls of Asgaard and as soon as Loki had flown over them they set fire to the shavings. The flames shot high into the air and Tjatse could not stop in time, the feathers caught fire and the wings quickly burned up and he fell helplessly to the ground. There Thor waited with Mjölnir in his hand and with one powerful blow he finished him off.
As a memory of the giant, Thor threw his eyes up into the sky. Some say they turned into shining stars, while others claim they turned into the sun and moon.
