Eternal youth

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eternal youth is the concept of human physical immortality free of aging. The youth referred to is usually meant to be in contrast the depredations of aging, rather than a specific age of the human lifespan.

So far eternal youth remains beyond the capabilities of science to achieve. Much research, however, is currently being conducted in the sciences of genetics which may allow manipulation of the aging process at some time in the future. It remains a popular theme in fiction.

[edit] Mythology

The difference between eternal life and the more specific eternal youth is a recurrent theme in Greek and Roman mythology. The mytheme of requesting the boon of immortality from a god, but forgetting to ask for eternal youth appears in the story of Tithonus. A similar theme is found in Ovid regarding the Cumaean Sibyl.

In Norse mythology, Iðunn is described as providing the gods apples that grant them eternal youthfulness in the 13th century Prose Edda.

[edit] See also

• Ageless
• Elixir of life
• Fountain of Youth
• Indefinite lifespan