58 MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS RITES. 
were always held in her palace Vingolf. She knew, also, the fate of all 
men, but never revealed it to any one. She understood, moreover, the 
language of all animals and plants. Her wisdom and knowledge were so 
great, that even Odin applied to her often for counsel. She is generally 
represented as in pl. 12, fig. 1, seated in a golden chariot, which is drawn 
by two white cats, her white veil is flying in the wind, and by her side 
hover two of her attendants with veils similar to her own. 
Idunna was the wife of Braga, and the goddess of immortality. She is 
always found as in jig. 3, seated by the side of her husband, with a basket 
of apples in her lap, which the gods eat when they begin to grow old, in 
order to renew their youth, and which are given to the Einheriar to make 
them immortal. The myth relates of her, that she was once carried off by 
the powerful giant Z/iasso, who was assisted in this abduction by Zoke, 
that most crafty of the gods. When the gods were thus deprived of the 
youth-giving apples, they visibly began to grow old. Alarmed at this state 
of things, they threatened Loke, who confessed his guilt, and promised to 
bring her back if the queen of the gods, Frigga, would change him into a 
falcon, and endow him with the power to transform himself and others into 
any shape he pleased. The request was granted, and he transported him- 
self immediately to the abode of the giant, where he arrived just as the 
other had gone on a fishing excursion, accompanied by all his servants. 
He entered the window in the shape of a falcon, and seating himself on the 
shoulder of the goddess, communicated to her his errand, and changing her 
into a swallow, flew with her towards Asgard. 
The giant, who returned just in time to witness their escape, immediately 
pursued them in the shape of an eagle, but they reached Asgard before he 
could come up with them. Loke, afraid of his pursuer, hid himself beneath 
a pile of branches just as the eagle was about to dart upon him, but the 
gods set fire to the pile, which singed the wings of the eagle so badly, that 
he fell down, when he was readily destroyed. But Idunna’s arrival was 
hailed with great demonstrations of joy. 
Gefion was the goddess of innocence, and the protectress of pious 
virgins. /ylla was the confidential attendant and counsellor of Frigga ; and 
“Sif, the wife of Thor. 
The gods belonging to the second class were the Vanzr, and such of them as 
were afterwards adopted by the Asir. ‘The Vanir were a race who inhabited 
the regions of the ether which stretched over Godhewm (Asgard). They were 
always friendly disposed to the human race, and protected it even against 
any injustice perpetrated by the gods against any individual of the race, 
or avenged it when protection came too late. When Odin had once 
unjustly killed a man, the Vanir took up the cause, and stormed Asgard ; 
a battle ensued, but as neither side could gain a victory they made peace, 
and ratified it by spitting in a large vessel. The saliva thus collected gave 
birth to a wonderful being Quasir, who was endowed with supernatural 
wisdom, and travelled through the world for the purpose of instructing man- 
kind. At last the dwarfs /ialar and Galar killed him, and collecting his 
blood in two tubs and a large kettle they mixed honey with it. This mix. 
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