IDUN — NANNA — SIF

Little is known of Idun, Nanna, and Sif. Idun, the wife of Bragi, had in her possession the most priceless treasures of the Æsir, certain apples that restored youth to those who ate of them. Without them the Æsir would have become old and feeble. For this reason they were fearful of losing Idun, so that on one occasion when she had been carried off by the Giant Thjazi4 they were in the most dire straits. Idun was designated as the “Goddess of Brunnaker’s Bench,” presumably the name of the dwelling where she and Bragi were housed. Nanna, daughter of Nep, was the wife of Balder, whom she so loved that her heart broke at his death. Sif was the wife of Thor. She had been wedded before, to whom we do not know; and she was the mother of Ull, who is called the stepson of Thor. Sif was fair and had gold hair fashioned for her by cunning Dwarfs. Her name, meaning “kindred,” “relationship,” indicates that she was thought of as the protector of homes, just as Thor was the protector of Midgard.1 Sigyn, Skadi, and Gerd have already been discussed.