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THE KALEVALA
- Kalevala (The Finnish National Epic) is published in ca 51 different languages. Best places to find
different versions of Kalevala are Academic Bookstore and Tiedekirja Book Shop in Kruununhaka,
Helsinki.
- A cartoon version of the Kalevala ‘The Canine Kalevala’ by Mauri Kunnas was first published in 1992
(also available in English). The roles are played by dogs and cats. Some stories are turned upside down
compared with the original Kalevala. Illustrations are free interpretations of Gallen-Kallela’s paintings.
- First Kalevala was published in 1835 and a new, enlarged version in 1949.
- Kalevala consists of poems collected by Elias Lönnrot from Savo-area in north-east-central Finland,
but mostly from Karelia, the eastern regions of Finland (most of which is nowadays known as the
Russian Karelia).
- Paanajärvi Lake National park in north-west Russia is the core of Kalevala-land the so-called ‘Viena
Karelia’. It is located pretty close to Finnish cities Kuhmo and Kuusamo and the village of Salla
(Geographically Kuhmo is part of so-called ‘Kainuu’-area, which is located in the east between southcentral ‘Savo’ and northern Lapland. Kuusamo & Salla are counted into Lapland. The most important
city in ‘Savo’ is Kuopio, in ‘Kainuu’ it’s Kajaani and in Lappland Rovaniemi)
- Old Kalevala tells the mythological history of Finland from the era before Christianity.
- New Kalevala, Kanteletar, consists of the oral tradition from Swedish and Christian era as well as
nursery rhymes, cattle calling and protecting songs etc.
Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931)
* Brother’s slayer, 1897, tempera on hand-woven canvas, 66x56, Ateneum
Albert Edelfelt (1854-1905)
* Christ and Mataleena, 1892, Ateneum
- Kalevala poems have been transferred between people as oral tradition. They were sung by poemsingers who were respected members of society as they were continuing the mystic tradition of
Väinämöinen, the great singer-hero of Kalevala epic. Best known singers were f.ex. Larin Paraske,
Mikhail Arhippainen, Pedri Shemeikka, Rimmin Uljaska, Matjoi Plattonen, Stepanie Lesonen
- Some of the poems were collected already in the 17th Century, but most parts of Kalevala and
Kanteletar were written down much later, in the 19th Century.
- Some people are still learning and teaching the old way of singing these poems as well as the old
Karelian tradition of crying-songs for weddings and funerals.
- As a model for Kalevala Elias Lönnrot used the Greek national epic “Iliad and Ulysses” by Homer and
the old Scandinavian epic “Edda”. Very close to Kalevala, almost like a continuation of some of the
stories, is the Estonian national epic “Kalevi poeg”. There are also common features between the
Finnish Kalevala, other European and even some African, Asian and American myths.
- Kalevala poems can be grouped as
1) Mythological-historical legends about heroes, wars etc.
2) Lyrical poems about the singers own personal experiences and feelings
3) Ritual poems especially for weddings and bear-rituals
4) Magic poems, daily songs to protect the cattle, house, family etc.
KALEVALA - IN SEARCH FOR CULTURAL ROOTS
Kalevala - a symbol of civilisation and learning
Eric Cainberg, Åbo Academy 1813
* Väinämöinen playing Kantele, sculpted relief in the Banquet Hall
C.E. Sjöstrand, Helsinki University, 1832
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* Väinämöinen playing Kantele, sculpted relief in the vestibule
Robert Wilhelm Ekman, The Old Student House, Helsinki 1886
* Väinämöinen playing the Kantele, 390x283, fresco in the Music Chamber
Robert Stigell, The Old Student House, Helsinki, 1888
* Statues of Smith Ilmarinen and Väinämöinen in the facade
Akseli Gallen-Kallela, The Old Student House, Helsinki, 1901
* Kullervo riding off to war, fresco in the Music Chamber
Early Depictions of The Kalevala
Robert Wlhelm Ekman (1808-1873)
 Ekman returned to Finland in 1845 to paint the frescoes of the choir of Turku Cathedral.
 He undertook an expedition to Häme and Savo and with his rune-singer and Kalevala themes,
he laid the foundation for an idealistic image of Finland. As the founder and teacher of the
Turku Drawing School established in 1846 as Finland’s first art school, Ekman left a valuable
heritage for future generations of artists.
 Ekman gave the heroes of the Kalevala a classical visage. In his paintings Väinämöinen became
a Northern Zeus inspired by Greek mythology
* Ilmatar (Goddess of the Air), 1860, 79x111,5, Ateneum
* Väinämöinen playing the Kantele, 1866, 390x283, The Old Student House Helsinki
Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931)
* The Big Pike fish, 1904, 66,5x62
Finland created: Mythology visualizing history
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Instead of the hero legends of Swedish and Russian rule, the Kalevala offered a purely Finnish
mythical past to unify the people
Gallen-Kallela participated in the first competition for illustrations to the Kalevala epic at the
age of 18, and since then the ancient mythology of the Finns fascinated him throughout his life.
During the 1920s he made illustrations to the so-called Jewel Kalevala and the Great Kalevala
Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931)
* Forging of the Sampo, 1893, 200x152, Ateneum
* Forging of the Sampo, sketch for the ceiling frescoes in the Finnish Pavillion of the Paris World Fair in
1900
Väinö Blomstedt (1871–1947)
* Forging of the Sampo, 1897
Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931)
* Defending the Sampo, 1896, tempera on canvas, 122x125, Turku Art Museum
* Defending the Sampo, ceiling fresco in the National Museum, 1928, based on the frescoes in the Finnish
Pavillion of the Paris World Fair in 1900
Joseph Alanen (1885-1920)
* Defending the Sampo, 1910-1912, wowen tapestry
Markku Laakso (born 1970)
* Defending the Sampo, 1999
Robert Wilhelm Ekman (1808-1873)
* Paganism fleing, 1860, 30x23,5
Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931)
* Paganism and Christianity, Sketch for the ceiling frescoes in the Finnish Pavillion of the Paris World Fair
in 1900
* Departure of Väinämöinen, 1896-1906, 128x121
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Heikki W. Virolainen (1936-2004)
Marjatta, 1965, painted oak, 238 cm
Emil Halonen (1875-1950)
* Marjatta, 1916, alderwood, 162 cm
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The examples for Marjatta, the virgin-mother of the Kalevala epic, are to be found in the
tradition of Madonna imagery
Aino – the ideal beauty
Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931)
* The tale of Aino, 1891, 200x413, Ateneum
* The tale of Aino, first version, 1889, The Bank of Finland
Johannes Takanen (1849-1885)
* Aino, loking to the sea, terracotta 1874, 30 cm; plaster 1876 and marble 1886, 110,5 cm
Martta Wendelin (1893-1986)
* Cover of the Kotiliesi (Home Stove) magazine 1941
Joel Viktor Räsänen (1905–1978)
* Elovena oatmeal package, 1935
Kari Soinio (born 1962)
* Smell of a man #12, 2005, photograph, 132x90, Kiasma
Elina Brotherus (born 1972)
* From The New Painting Series, 2000-, Baigneuse de Saturnia, 80x100, Kiasma
Sirpa Alalääkkölä (born 1964)
* The tale of Aino, 1988, Kiasma
Mauri Kunnas (born 1950)
* The tale of Aino in the Canine Kalevala, 1992
Hasan & Partners
* Advertisement published in Me Naiset magazine, 1995
Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931)
* Bil Bol poster, 1907 (reference in the Kalevala: the abduction of Kyllikki)
Miss Finland and Miss Universum: Armi Kuusela and Anne Pohtamo
Kullervo – The Tragic Hero
Carl Eneas Sjöstrand (1823-1906)
* Kullervo speaking to his sword, 1877, bronze, 83 cm, Park of the Helsinki Winter Garden (Töölö district)
Björn Landström (1917-1922)
* Kullervo, illustration for the Kalevala, published by Otava 1985
Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931)
* Kullervo cursing, 1899, 184x102, Ateneum
Kalervo Palsa (1947-1987)
* Kullervo (”The world is a challenge cup for the strong ones”), 1983, 110x90, Kiasma
Tuonela – The Mystery of Life and Death
Robert Wilhelm Ekman (1808-1873)
* Lemminkäinen’s Mother by the River of Tuonela, 1862
Edwin Lydén (1879-1956)
* Lemminkäinen, 1903, Turku Art Museum
Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931)
* Lemminkäinen’s mother, 1897, 85x108, Ateneum
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The Sand Castle of Lappeenranta, summer 2013
* Lemminkäinen’s mother
Mauri Kunnas (born 1950)
* Lemminkäinen’s mother in The Canine Kalevala, 1992
Jaakko Sievänen (1932-2013)
* Lemminkäinen’s mother, 1963, 123x111
Vertti Teräsvuori (born 1966)
* Girl from the Tuonela, photograph from the Series Pre Kalevala, 1997
Pekka Nevalainen (born 1951)
* Tuonelan river, 1986, installaation, video, metal, water
Tarja Pitkänen-Walter (born 1960)
* Lemminkäinen’s mother scrabbling, installaation, 1997
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The national bird of Finland and the mythical guardian of Tuonela, the realm of the dead in the
Kalevala epic, drifts beyond the grasp of mortals. The swan entwines the paired opposites
bearing life, yin and yang, man and woman, heaven and earth, light and darkness. The bird is at
once sacred and erotic, the divine messenger of Apollo, a metaphor of deeper spirituality,
Narcissus viewing his own reflection, and a seductive beauty
WHO’S WHO IN THE KALEVALA EPIC?
MEN
Ukko
- Highest god. When Väinämöinen hits his knee with an axe, Ukko stops the bleeding with magical
words. After a fight over the Sampo when Louhi hides the sun and the moon and steals the fire, Ukko
Ylijumala makes lightning to produce a new sun and moon. For the wedding in Pohjola Ukko gives
magical words with which men can make beer.
Väinämöinen
- Wise teller, king of Karelia, Kantele maker, boat builder, singer. Väinämöinen brings agriculture and
civilization to the Finnish People. Väinämöinen’s wisdom is increased by magical words he gets from
the highest God Ukko, a deceased wise teller Antero Vipunen and Tuonela, the kingdom of death.
After a duel fight with Joukahainen, Väinämöinen is promised to get Aino maiden as his wife, but Aino
drowns herself and her brother Joukahainen tries to shoot Väinämöinen. Joukahainen hits
Väinämöinen’s horse and Väinämöinen falls into the sea. An eagle rescues him and takes to Pohjola,
northern kingdom ruled by a woman named Louhi. In order to get back home, Väinämöinen promises
he will send smith Ilmarinen to Pohjola to make a Sampo, wealth producing machine.
Later when Ukko Ylijumala tries to make a new sun and moon with the help of lightning, fire drops in a
mouth of a big fish. Väinämöinen catches the fish and puts fire in the service of humans.
In the end of Kalevala, after Marjatta’s son is declared king of Karelia, Väinämöinen takes a boat and
sails away from Finland. He leaves behind a music instrument Kantele and Kalevala poems and says
that one day the Finns shall need him again to make new Sampo, to give birth to new day and to play
new songs.
Joukahainen
- Brother of Aino maiden. Joukahainen challenges Väinämöinen into a duel during which they measure
each others wisdom and power by singing. Väinämöinen sings Joukahainen into swamp and
Joukahainen promises his sister Aino to Väinämöinen in order to save his own life. Later Joukahainen
tries to shoot Väinämöinen as a revenge, but he hits Väinämöinen’s horse instead.
Ilmarinen
- Smith, maker of Sampo, wealth producing machine. After completing several dangerous tasks
Ilmarinen gets Pohjola Maiden to his wife, but she is later killed by Kullervo after a “stone in the bread”
incident. After his wife is killed, Ilmarinen makes himself a new wife of gold, but she is too cold.
Väinämöinen warns Ilmarinen not to kneel in front of gold and richness.
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Ilmarinen goes and robs the youngest Pohjola Maiden, but she teases him so much he sings her into a
seagull. Ilmarinen tells Väinämöinen about all wealth Sampo has produced to the people of Pohjola
and Väinämöinen, Ilmarinen and Lemminkäinen decide to go and steal the Sampo. Later after a fight
over the Sampo, Louhi hides sun and moon into a mountain. Ilmarinen makes a new sun and moon,
but they don’t shine. Ilmarinen starts to make weapons so that Väinämöinen could travel to Pohjola
and free the sun and the moon by force. While he is working Louhi gets scared and lets the sun and the
moon back to the sky.
Lemminkäinen
- Young hero and a warrior with two weaknesses: warfare and women. From a place called The Island
Lemminkäinen steals himself a wife, Kyllikki. Later he gets angry with his new wife and travels to
Pohjola to propose to Pohjola Maiden. After death and resurrection Lemminkäinen has a duel fight
with the Master of Pohjola, whom he kills with sword. After the killing Lemminkäinen escapes to The
Island and has fun with maidens there until men return home and drive him out in an outburst of
jealousy. Lemminkäinen returns home but finds his house burned down and his mother hiding in
forest. Lemminkäinen goes into war against Pohjola with his old friend Tiera, but this trip ends badly
and Lemminkäinen returns home beaten. Later he joins Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen as they go to steal
Sampo from Pohjola.
Kalervo
- Father of Kullervo. Kalervo and his family are killed by his envious brother Untamo. Only his wife and
unborn son Kullervo survive and are taken as slaves to Untamola, the house of Untamo.
Untamo
- Brother of Kalervo who envies his brother’s wealth, power and success. After starting a war and
killing his brother Untamo takes his pregnant sister-in-law into slavery and later sells her son Kullervo
to Smith Ilmarinen and his wife the Pohjola Maiden.
Kullervo
- Tragic hero, Finnish “Hamlet”. This half-orphan boy is raised in his uncle’s house as fatherless son of
a slave and an heir of a destroyed family. Filled with hate towards his uncle who killed his father, he
swears revenge already in the age of 3 days. Later people try to kill him as they are scared of his
unusual powers, but Kullervo doesn’t die in the fire nor in the water. Due to his supernatural powers
Kullervo doesn’t succeed in any ordinary task and so he is sold to serve Smith Ilmarinen. Ilmarinen’s
wife, Pohjola Maiden bakes bread with a hidden stone for Kullervo. Kullervo breaks his father’s knife
while cutting the bread and gets angry. He drowns the cows he was taking care of, collects a cattle of
bears and wolves and leads them into the house, where they kill the evil lady, the Pohjola Maiden.
Kullervo escapes, finds his parents hiding in forest and hears that he has a sister, who is missing.
Father sends Kullervo out to collect taxes and during his return Kullervo meets and seduces a beautiful
maiden, his own sister he has never seen before. After they find out each other’s true identity, the girl
jumps into waterfall killing herself and Kullervo rides to war during which he will kill his uncle
Untamo along with his family. After returning home, Kullervo finds his mother and father dead and
ends up killing himself by sticking a sword through his stomach.
WOMEN
Ilmatar/Aallotar
- Virgin air. In the beginning of the world Ilmatar lands down in water and becomes The Virgin of
Waters. A Scaup duck makes gold and iron eggs on Ilmatar’s stomach from which they drop into water,
break and give birth to earth, heaven, sun, moon and clouds. Ilmatar gets pregnant by the sea and gives
birth to Väinämöinen
Aino
- Beautiful virgin maiden. Aino’s brother Joukahainen promises to her Väinämöinen after a lost duel.
Aino drowns herself and joins the maidens of Wellamo, mermaids. Later Väinämöinen catches Aino
with a fishing net but doesn’t recognize her and so she escapes for good.
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Louhi
- Witch, ruler of the Pohjola, the North. As an opposite to Väinämöinen Louhi represents everything
that’s uncivilized, savage and barbarian. After Louhi looses the Sampo, she sends illnesses and a bear
to destroy Väinämöinen’s people. Then she hides the sun and the moon into the mountain of Pohjola
and steals the fire.
Pohjola Maiden
- Beautiful maiden, daughter of Louhi. Väinämöinen, Lemminkäinen and Ilmarinen are competing of
her and in order to get her they have to complete different dangerous tasks. Väinämöinen has to make
a boat without touching with hands, without paying with money. Lemminkäinen has to catch the
Moose of Hiisi, then catch and tame the fiery Horse of Hiisi. Finally Lemminkäinen is asked to shoot the
Swan of Tuonela, kingdom of death. Ilmarinen must plough a field filled with snakes, catch the bear
and the wolf of Tuonela and a pike fish from the Tuonela river. Finally Ilmarinen gets Pohjola Maiden
to his wife, but she is later killed by Kullervo.
Lemminkäinen’s mother
- Powerful witch, symbol of mother’s love. When Lemmikäinen gets killed while trying to shoot the
Swan of Tuonela, Lemminkäinen’s mother enters the kingdom of death, collects the pieces of her son,
puts his body parts back together and wakes him up from the dead.
Kyllikki
- Maiden whom Lemminkäinen steals to his wife from place called The Island, which is supposed to
mean the old Viking centre Birka.
Marjatta
- Virgin mother, Finnish folk tale version of Virgin Mary. Marjatta gets pregnant by eating a
lingonberry (cowberry). In a forest she gives birth to a baby boy, who disappears but is later found
from a swamp. Väinämöinen declares that this fatherless bastard must die, but the half-a-month old
baby starts to talk against Väinämöinen’s doom and is baptised ‘the king of Karelia’.
PLACES & THINGS
Pohjola
- ‘Barbaric’ rival of the country of Väinämöinen, ruled by a lady named Louhi, who is described to be an
ugly and evil witch. Refers either to Lappland and the “Sami” people or the Baltic region.
Tuonela and the Swan of Tuonela
- In Tuonela, the kingdom of death, there is a black river which is guarded by the Holy bird, Tuonela
Swan.
Kantele
- Music instrument. During a Sampo-stealing trip to Pohjola the boat of Väinämöinen, Ilmarinen and
Lemminkäinen is sea wrecked on a big pike fish. Väinämöinen kills the pike and builds Kantele of its
jaw bones. No one else can play the Kantele, but when Väinämöinen starts playing the whole nature
goes spellbound. Later the first Kantele drops into the sea during a fight of Sampo. After this
Väinämöinen builds second Kantele of birch wood and hairs of a maiden. This Kantele he leaves
behind while leaving Finland into the hands of a new king, Marjatta’s son
Sampo
- Wealth producing machine made by smith Ilmarinen. Sampo makes salt, flour and money. At first
Sampo belongs to Louhi, Queen of Pohjola. After hearing stories of Pohjola’s enormous wealth,
Väinämöinen, Lemminkäinen and Ilmarinen sail there in order to steal the Sampo. The people of
Pohjola fall asleep as Väinämöinen plays Kantele and so the theft succeeds. After waking up, Louhi
finds out what has happened. While all her spells are unsuccessful, she turns in to a giant eagle and
flies to fight Väinämöinen. During the fight t Kantele falls into the sea, Sampo breaks in pieces and
washes away with the waves. Some pieces of Sampo change into Fishes and ‘fruits of the sea’, some
float to Finland’s shores and bring prosperity to the country.
FEMALE SPIRITS OF NATURE
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Kuutar; The Moon
Päivätär: Daylight
Annikki: Night and dim light
Wellamo: Water, her daughters are mermaids, her husband is Ahti
Tellervo & Tuulikki: Daughters of the god of the forest Tapio
Hongatar & Katajatar & Pihlajatar & Tuometar: Spirits of trees (pine – juniper – rowan tree – bird
cherry), daughters of Tapio, protectors of cattle
Mielikki: Daughter-in-law of Tapio, wife of Nyyrikki
MALE SPIRITS OF NATURE
Ahti: Water and waves, king of the underwater kingdom
Tapio: Forest, king/god of forest
Nyyrikki: Son of Tapio
Sampsa Pellervoinen: Fields. Helps Väinämöinen to grow forests in the newly created world. An oak
tree grows so big it hides away sun and moon. A little man arises from sea, falls down the oak and so
sun and moon can shine again
Antero Vipunen: Rock or cliff, a dead wise teller. When Louhi says Väinämöinen has to build a boat if
he wants to get the Pohjola Maiden into his own, Väinämöinen enters the stomach of Antero Vipunen
and gets magic words he can build the boat with
Hiisi: Spirit of nature living in forests