Väinämöinen

Vaka Vanha Väinämöinen – Steadfast Old Väinämöinen

Hero of the Kalevala

Karelian / Finnish Mythology

Väinämöinen is a central figure in Finnish mythology and the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic. He is often portrayed as an ancient, wise sage and a powerful magician, possessing deep knowledge of the world and its mysteries. His character embodies wisdom, age, and a deep connection to nature and the spirit world.

Väinämöinen is best known for using magic through his songs. He is depicted as a wise old man with a long beard and white hair who often plays his kantele, a traditional Finnish harp. As one of the shapers of the world, he possesses deep knowledge of all things.

He is also considered a symbol of Finnish identity. His connection to nature, collection of knowledge, heroism, and patience symbolize the Finnish spirit.

Väinämöinen’s Characteristics

Shaper of the World – While not considered a god, Väinämöinen is a primeval being credited with shaping much of the known world, including creating the elements and shaping rivers, forests, and landscapes.

Wise Elder – Väinämöinen is the keeper of knowledge with a vast understanding of magic, nature, and life cycles. As a being who existed before the creation of the world, he possesses ancient wisdom. Often, Väinämöinen is portrayed as a wise sage through his sagas.

Song and Magic Master – Notably, the Kalevala started as a collection of poems and songs. Väinämöinen is a master of song and magic. His magic is tied to his words, which come from “runot”, or poems and songs in Finnish. He is also famous for playing the kantele, a traditional Finnish harp.

His songs symbolize the connection between art, music, magic, and the universe. Väinämöinen is said to have created the first kantele with fish bones.

Eternal Wanderer – Väinämöinen is most notable for being a solitary wanderer who goes on long adventures across the lands. This wandering symbolizes the constant changing of the world and the ability to adapt through wisdom, magic, and leadership.

Protector of the People of Kalevala – Väinämöinen uses his knowledge to support and protect the people in the land of Kalevala. He also uses his patience and wisdom to advise the other heroes, such as Lemminkäinen and Ilmarinen, on ways to overcome their obstacles.

Relics

Väinämöinen is known for his powerful magic, wisdom, and cunning. In addition to these traits, he possesses magical relics that aid him on his adventures throughout the lands of Kalevala, Pohjola, and Tuonela.

Väinämöinen’s Kantele

The kantele is the most notable relic Väinämöinen possesses. Created from the bones of a fish, it helps him produce beautiful music that allows his magic to be transmuted through songs. However, the original kantele was lost in the waves, forcing the old man to create a new one out of wood.

When the kantele was first crafted, no one could play it successfully. It wasn’t until Väinämöinen first tried his hand that the instrument created music so beautiful it actually summoned Ahto and his wife from the depths of the sea. Other sea creatures emerged to listen to the wondrous music. Väinämöinen was so touched that his tears rolled into the ocean, forming pearls as they sank to the bottom of the sea.

The Sampo

Väinämöinen promised the Louhi, a power sorceress from the North the Sampo, in exchange for one of her daughter’s hands in marriage. While the Sampo was a creation by the great smith Ilmarinen, the quest for the Sampo became one of the key sagas in the Kalevala.

Later, the heroes Väinämöinen, Ilmarinen, and Lemminkäinen concocted a plot to steal the Sampo back from Louhi. This saga is a pivitol point in the Kalevala, later invoking Louhi’s wrath who plunges with world into darkness.

Väinämöinen’s Family

Before the creation of the world, Väinämöinen’s mother comes into mention frequently. While he never marries a bride, the quest to seek a partner is one that drives this hero through his travels and trials. Unfortunately, Väinämöinen never achieves this goal and doesn’t foster children of his own. The final Canto in the Kalevala portrays Väinämöinen sailing off into the sunset as Christianity takes hold in Finland.

• Mother: Ilmatar, the goddess of Air
• Father: Unknown
• Siblings: None
• Spouse: None
• Children: None

Interactions

Väinämöinen had intricate relationships with many of the central figures throughout the Kalevala.

Joukahainen

Joukahainen is one of the first antagonists Väinämöinen faces. He sought to best Väinämöinen in a battle of wisdom but almost lost his life after being sunk into the mud with the bard’s magic. As a result, Joukahainen offers his sister Aino’s hand in marriage to save his life.

Aino

Aino is a tragic character; after finding out she would be to wed Väinämöinen, she decided to take her own life by drowning in a lake. Her name means “the one and only” in Finnish.

Louhi

Louhi, Mistress of Pohjola, is a powerful sorceress from the northlands. Väinämöinen encounters her after seeking to court one of her daughters, leading to him promising to build her the Sampo.

Ilmarinen

Ilmarinen is a great smith who created the dome of sky out of nothing. Väinämöinen tricks Ilmarinen into traveling into Pohjola to craft the Sampo for Louhi.

Lemminkäinen

Lemminkäinen is a young and brash warrior. His personality is quite the opposite of Väinämöinen’s, who often guides the young man. Lemminkäinen is part of the trio that travels into Pohjola to steal the Sampo after Louhi goes back on her promise to reward Väinämöinen with a bride.

Väinämöinen’s Appearance

Väinämöinen is a virile old man with long, flowing white hair and a beard. He wears traditional Finnish clothing made of wool and leather and a flowing robe. Boat and horseback are his preferred methods of travel.

The kantele is his symbol of power, as it aids him in casting his powerful spells. Initially, the first kantele was made from fish bones, specifically the jaw of a giant pike and hair, but this was destroyed in the quest to steal the Sampo. As a result, he crafted a new kantele from a birch tree.

He also carries a sword; although it does not possess magical properties, it symbolizes justice.

Realms

Väinämöinen is an adventurer, wanderer, and free spirit. As such, he ventures through many of the lands of Kalevala during his travels. His quest for the Sampo is perhaps his most notable adventure; however, his quest for love also drives his traveling spirit.

Väinämöinen existed before the world and helped shape it. However, during his wandering, he visited:

• Kalevala
• Pohjola (Northland)
• Tuonela (Underworld)
• Ahtola (The Sea and Islands)
• The Realm of the Gods (Sky/Upper World)
• The Cosmic Realm

Runes Containing Väinämöinen in the Kalevala

Väinämöinen appears in the most Runes out of any character in the Kalevala. As the dominant character, he is seen as the face of the epic. These are some brief descriptions of each Rune. You can read the full Runes text on our Kalevala Interactive Reader.

Runes 1 & 2: Väinämöinen’s Birth and Shaping of the World

Ilmatar is the Goddess of Air, who descended from the heavens to float in the sea. At the time, the world had no form, so Ilmatar floated in the endless ocean. During this time, she becomes impregnated by the wind and the sea. She carries her baby for 700 years before giving birth to Väinämöinen.

Before Väinämöinen’s birth, a seabird lays six golden eggs and one iron egg on Ilmatar’s knee. The heat from the eggs eventually leads them to crack and fall into the ocean. From the upper shell, the dome of the sky is formed, the lower shell forms the earth, the yolk and egg white form the sun and moon, while the speckles of shells form the stars in the sky.

Ilmatar forms the mountains, valleys, and ridges by pushing the land together with her hands, knees, and hips. Her footsteps carve the rivers, bays, and channels. This forms a suitable place for her son to inhabit.

Väinämöinen is the first human and is a primordial being. He continues his mother’s work by planting forests and fields and shaping the land. He plants a mighty oak tree, which eventually must be felled as it grows too large. Birch trees also grow amongst the forest, becoming a significant plant for the Finns.

The hero goes on to plant wheat, grains, and shrubs. However, his work is not complete until he comes across six grains of golden barley, the most significant crop in Finnish culture. He prays to Ukko to help the lands flourish. Once barley takes hold, his creation of the world is complete for human habitation.

Rune 3: Väinämöinen and Joukahainen

Joukahainen is a brash singer from Lapland who becomes jealous of tales of Väinämöinen’s great ability. Desperate to prove his worth, Joukahainen sets out to best the hero in a duel of words. The young singer takes his sled down to Väinola to meet the hero. En route, he stops Väinämöinen in a narrow pass by crashing his sled.

Joukahainen tries his best, but his display of knowledge is no match for the ageless Väinämöinen, who mocks his arrogance. The young singer threatens to settle the duel with his sword, at which point the hero unleashes his true power.

He sings his magic to create a swamp, engulfing Joukahainen like quicksand. Joukahainen offers riches, gold, silver, horses, and boats, but none of these interests the old man. Just as the young singer is about to be fully engulfed, he offers his sister Aino’s hand in marriage. Pleased the sage sings him back up.

Joukahainen returns home, his ego bruised, and tells of his promise. His mother is pleased that the great sage will marry her daughter. However, young Aino has no interest in marrying an old man.

Rune 4: The Fate of Aino

Aino becomes furious, throwing a tantrum and telling her mother she’ll never marry a decrepit old man. Because of her mother’s insistence, the young maiden flees her home. Wandering for days, she arrives at the shore of a beautiful lake.

On the banks of the lake, she prays to the deity couple Ahti and Vellamo for salvation. Shortly afterward, she drowns herself in the lake to avoid a fate with Väinämöinen.

But the God and Goddess of the Sea answer her prayers, transforming her into a water nymph after her death. Väinämöinen, in search of his bride, arrives too late.

Rune 5: Väinämöinen’s Lamentation

The hero attempts to find Aino in the lake, but her body eludes him. He curses Vellamo for taking his bride away before heading to a boathouse to snag some fishing lure. He casts and casts, for days and nights, to find the soul of Aino.

Finally, he catches the most beautiful pike in all of Finland. As he goes for his silver knife to gut it, the fish slips his grasp and transforms back into a mermaid. Aino ridicules the blind old man for failing to recognize his bride. She mocks him for mistaking her for a fish, then slips away.

Väinämöinen summons a net and dredges the entire lake floor for days and nights. Finally, he accepts that Aino has slipped away forever, to live in the land of Ahtola as a daughter of Vellamo.

The hero leaves with a broken heart and mourns the idea of being alone forever.

Rune 6: Väinämöinen’s Hapless Journey

Joukahainen, ego still bruised and furious over his sister’s death, sets out to slay Väinämöinen. He grabs his crossbow and tips the bolts with venom before setting an ambush for the hero.

When he spots the old man riding his horse, he lets a bolt loose. The shot pierces the horse, killing it instantly. As the horse throws the rider off, Väinämöinen plunges down a cliff and lands in the icy waters of the sea below. Once again, the hero finds himself at the mercy of the tides.

Runes 7 – 8: Väinämöinen’s Rescue and Maiden of the Rainbow

As Väinämöinen drifts endlessly in the sea, he approaches the land of Pohjola (Lapland). Suddenly, a giant eagle grasps him from the sea and takes him to Louhi, the Mistress of Pohjola.

She knows of Väinämöinen well and is impressed to have the great figure in her presence. She orders a feast and nurses him back to health. While Louhi is a crook-nosed hag, her daughters possess wondrous beauty. The hero asks for the Maiden of Pohjola’s hand in marriage.

Delighted, Louhi agrees, but only under one condition: if he forges her the mystical item, the Sampo. An item so great that it creates unlimited grain, salt, and gold. Väinämöinen is not a smith, but he knows a great one, Ilmarinen. He agrees to have the Eternal Blacksmith forge it for her.

Runes 9 – 10: Origin of Iron and Ilmarinen Forges the Sampo

On his journey home, Väinämöinen’s axe slips and gouges his knee. The bleeding is so profuse that he’s unable to heal it with his magic. He wanders upon an old man who knows a spell of healing. While teaching Väinämöinen the spell, he also reveals the magic of creating iron.

After healing up, Väinämöinen explains the plan to craft the Sampo to Ilmarinen. However, the Eternal Blacksmith has no interest in traveling to Pohjola. Instead, Väinämöinen concocts a scheme to trick Ilmarinen. He uses his magic to create an illusion in a birch tree of the Moon and Ursa Major. He tells the blacksmith he must climb the tree to retrieve these precious items.

As Ilmarinen reaches the top of the tree, Väinämöinen summons a mighty gust of wind that blows his compatriot into Pohjola. Once there, Louhi instead promises Ilmarinen the daughter’s hand in marriage. After the smith creates the Sampo, he returns home, but Louhi insists her daughter remains in Pohjola for the time being.

Runes 16 – 17: Väinämöinen’s Boat Building and Quest to Find the Lost Word

Väinämöinen, desperate to return to fetch his bride, decides to craft a magical boat to sail there with. He requires three powerful words to do so. But as he gets to the third, he comes up short. The sage is stumped and must find the last word, so he sets out to find someone who knows it.

He travels to Tuonela, the Land of the Dead, to find the ancient giant Antero Vipunen. After slipping his way through the River of Tuonela, guarded by the feared Swan of Tuonela, he finds the sleeping giant. When Antero awakes, he swallows Väinämöinen. Inside the belly of the giant, the sage forges a knife and begins stabbing the giant’s stomach until the giant gives him the word.

After escaping the giant, the sage must escape Tuonela, which no one has done before. A net of steel guards the river, so cleverly the sage turns into a snake and slips through. Becoming the first man to escape the lands of the dead, he proceeds to complete his boat.

Rune 18: The Rival Suitors

With his magical vessel created, Väinämöinen sails back to Pohjola. Meeting Ilmarinen along the way, he discovers they are both suitors to the Maiden of Pohjola. Upon arriving, they compete to win the bride’s favor. Ultimately, she decides on Ilmarinen, the younger of the two.

Runes 39 – 44: The Theft of the Sampo

This is the most iconic saga of the Kalevala. When they find out how rich Louhi has become from the Sampo, they devise a plan to steal it back. Väinämöinen, Ilmarinen, and Lemminkäinen set sail to retrieve the item of wondrous prosperity. They believe Louhi shouldn’t hoard the wealth in Pohjola; it instead belongs in Kalevala.

While they are sailing, a giant pike smashes against the ship. Väinämöinen slays the pike and fashions the first kantele (Finnish harp) out of its jawbone and the hairs of a magical horse. Each hero tries to play it, but only Väinämöinen can produce the proper sound. Its music is so wondrous that even Vellamo and Ahti surface to hear it. Vellamo sheds tears, which turn into pearls as they sank to the bottom of the sea.

Väinämöinen uses the Sampo to put all the creatures and people in Pohjola to sleep. Sneaking into Louhi’s lair deep in the cave, they retrieve the Sampo and return to their boat.

Louhi awakes, enraged that the Sampo is missing. She transforms into a giant eagle with her army riding on her back. They engage in an epic battle at sea, but ultimately, the Sampo is shattered, with most of it washing into the sea.

Väinämöinen gathers the fragments he can and returns to Kalevala, hoping they can still bring prosperity, but alas, they can’t. Louhi also managed to retrieve a few pieces, leaving both lands with just a slight portion of the wealth the Sampo could’ve provided. During the struggle, the original kantele was also lost at sea. He creates another one from birchwood once home.

Runes 45 – 46: Otso the Honey-eater and Louhi Steals the Sun, Moon, and Fire

Enraged by the loss of the Sampo, Louhi seeks revenge on the people of Kalevala. She creates nine daughters, consisting of diseases, plagues, and pestilence, to wreak havoc on the people. Väinämöinen responds by using his magic to heal the people.

Next, she creates Otso the Honey-eater, a giant bear, to attack the people. Väinämöinen slays the beast, but instead of celebrating, they mourn it and create the tradition of the bear feast.

Finally, she steals fire, the Sun, and the Moon. This plunges the people into darkness, without warmth. Crops fail, and famine ensues. Ilmarinen does his best to forge new ones but fails.

As the heroes begin their journey into Pohjola to retrieve the celestial items, Louhi concedes, recognizing that she has created nothing but suffering.

Rune 50: Marjatta – Väinämöinen’s Departure

In the final rune, Marjatta, an innocent young woman, eats a berry and becomes pregnant. The child’s birth is mysterious, prompting the elders to investigate.

Väinämöinen decides it should not live; the child replies to him with uncanny wisdom. He criticized Väinämöinen for his reckless, thoughtless ways. This leads to the child being baptized and recognized as the new ruler of the lands.

Recognizing he is no longer needed, Väinämöinen sets sail into the sunset and is never seen again.