Ilmarinen
Ikiseppä Ilmarinen – The Eternal Blacksmith
Hero of the Kalevala
Karelian / Finnish Mythology
The Eternal Blacksmith, Ilmarinen, is a pivotal hero in Kalevala. He symbolizes creation, creativity, resilience, and consequences. Also known as “The Smith of the Sky”, he is credited in some versions of the Kalevala with forging the Dome of the Sky, which protects the Earth.
However, his most notable feat is creating the Sampo for Louhi, the Mistress of Pohjola. While he is not technically a god, he received divine merit for forging the heavens.
Ilmarinen exhibits a complex array of emotions that symbolize the struggles of humanity. Ultimately, Ilmarinen’s stories focus on the power of creation, problem-solving, and the complexity of human emotions.
Nicknames
Ilmarinen’s main nickname is “The Eternal Smith”; however, he has a variety of other titles depending on the rune’s variation and the source. His nicknames include the following:
- Taivaan Seppä – Smith of the Sky
- Ikiseppä Ilmarinen – The Eternal Blacksmith Ilmarinen
- Sampo-Seppä – Smith of the Sampo
- Taitava Seppä – Skilled Smith
- Rautojen Taitaja – Master of Iron
Ilmarinen’s Characteristics
Master Craftsman – Ilmarinen is known for his ingenuity and master craftsmanship. His creations display exquisite beauty and magical qualities.
Initially, he was famous for forging the Dome of the Sky. Later, Väinämöinen asks him to create the Sampo for Louhi, Mistress of Pohjola.
Persistence – Ilmarinen is also known for his persistence and determination in crafting and overcoming struggles. His vast knowledge and confidence result in the creation of resourceful tools on the fly and magical items alike.
Resourcefulness – As a master blacksmith, he uses his ingenuity to forge solutions to his problems. These problem-solving abilities serve both mortal and divine beings. Some examples of his creations are the Dome of the Sky and the Sampo.
Creation’s Duality – Despite being a master in his craft, Ilmarinen fails to achieve his personal goal of having a lifelong wife. His struggle conveys the duality of possessing divine skills while still living a flawed life.
Tragic Hero – Ilmarinen’s character represents humanity’s tragedy and flaws. Rewarded with a bride from Louhi for creating the Sampo, Ilmarinen’s marriage ends in misfortune. Kullervo ultimately kills his living wife, leading to the creation of the Golden Wife. Ultimately, the Golden Wife is cold and lifeless, symbolizing the limits of human creation.
Relics Forged by Ilmarinen
As the Eternal Blacksmith, he is renowned for his legendary forging skills. He is responsible for creating some of the Kalevala’s most powerful relics and magical items.
The Sampo
Ilmarinen creates the legendary Sampo for Louhi in exchange for one of her daughters’ hands in marriage. The Sampo is a powerful magical object resembling a mill that churns out unlimited gold, salt, and grain.
The Golden Wife
With the sorrow of the death of his wife, Ilmarinen decides to craft the Golden Wife. She is a lifelike replica of the Maiden of Pohjola, crafted from gold and silver. However, despite his deft work, the Golden Wife cannot replace his widow. This story illustrates the lesson that money doesn’t always bring happiness.
Ilmarinen’s Forge
From his forge, Ilmarinen creates divine objects containing power and beauty. His aptitude and ingenuity allow him to construct anything, from mundane to divine. These creations include weapons, tools, and enchanted items, making his work sought out by most throughout the Kalevala.
The Dome of the Sky
After Ilmatar and Väinämöinen shape the Earth, Ilmarinen forges the Dome of the Sky, which provides protection and unity with the Heavens. This feat awards him the renown of being a cosmic craftsman.
Ilmarinen’s Family
While his immediate family receives little mention, his story focuses on his quest to marry the ideal bride. Although this accomplishment eventually leads to immense sorrow and despair.
- Parents: Unknown
- Siblings: The Maiden (his sister), unnamed brother
- Spouse: Maiden of Pohjola, Maiden of the Sun
- Children: None
After his wedding, Ilmarinen’s stories make no mention of his wife. Yet, the story of Kullervo delves deeper into his wife’s life.
Kullervo is a servant in the household; his story portrays Ilmarinen’s wife as a bitter and vengeful woman. Eventually, during his herding chores, the servant kills her by summoning bears and wolves disguised as cows.
Interactions Throughout The Kalevala
Väinämöinen
Ilmarinen encounters Väinämöinen when he is asked to forge the Sampo for Louhi, the Mistress of Pohjola. Initially, Väinämöinen tricks him into traveling to the northlands; however, Louhi promises him a daughter to be his bride in return.
Later, the two heroes compete to wed the Maiden of Pohjola, in which Ilmarinen triumphs. Eventually, Ilmarinen, Väinämöinen, and Lemminkäinen venture into Pohjola to steal the Sampo from Louhi.
Louhi, the Mistress of Pohjola
Ilmarinen crafts the legendary Sampo for Louhi. Later, he weds Louhi’s daughter in a celebration that details the creation of beer by Osmotar. The final interaction with Ilmarinen and Louhi occurs when the three heroes plot to steal the Sampo from the Northlands.
Maiden of Pohjohla (Louhi’s Daughter)
After crafting the Sampo, Louhi keeps her promise and gives Ilmarinen her daughter as his bride. The marriage is short-lived, however, symbolizing the tragic nature of human emotions and Ilmarinen.
The Golden Wife
After losing his wife, Ilmarinen sets out to create a replacement for the Maiden of Pohjola. The Golden Wife, a beautiful creation made of gold and silver, turns out to be lifeless and cold. She ultimately symbolizes the duality of human creations.
Lemminkäinen
Lemminkäinen joins Ilmarinen and Väinämöinen on the quest to steal the Sampo. The three heroes travel to the Northlands to retrieve the Sampo from Pohjola. Unfortunately, during this endeavour, Louhi gives chase with her army of the Northlands. As the heroes battle the Mistress of the Pohjola in their ship, the Sampo is lost overboard. The legendary relic remains in Ahtola’s domain to this day.
Realms in Ilmarinen’s Sagas
While Ilmarinen is an inhabitant of Kalevala, his adventures lead him to several other realms. He travels to Pohjola on several occasions, including to forge the Sampo, attend his wedding, and ultimately steal his relic back. The latter leads him to travel across Ahtola as Louhi gives chase. However, the hero spends most of his time in his forge.
- Kalevala (Land of Heroes)
- Pohjola (The Northland)
- Tuonela (The Underworld)
- Taivas (Heavens)
- Ahtola (The Sea)
The Cultural Significance of Ilmarinen in Finland
Finnish nationalism rose in the 20th century, coinciding with the Industrial Revolution. These changes in how Finns perceived the world made Ilmarinen even more iconic. He represents the resilience and perseverance of the working-class Finns.
Two famous statues of this hero stand in Helsinki. The Old Student House has two statues portraying Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen nearby. The Three Smiths Statue depicts three naked blacksmiths hammering an anvil. While this does not specifically reference the hero, it symbolizes his legacy.
Despite his grandeur and heroic stature, Ilmarinen remains a tragic hero in the Kalevala. He is ultimately unable to maintain a stable relationship, which is a folly of his hubris. After his failed marriage to the Maiden of Pohjola, he attempts to forge the Golden Maiden. However, she proves to be cold and unloving.
Frequently Asked Questions
What mythical artifacts did Ilmarinen forge?
Ilmarinen, the Eternal Blacksmith, is renowned for his forging skills. His magical artifacts help explain the natural world and teach humanity lessons.
- The Dome of the Sky: During the creation of the world, Ilmarinen forges the Dome of the Sky out of iron, with gems making up the stars. Its purpose is to contain the mortal world under the heavens (Taivas).
- The Sampo: After being tricked by Väinämöinen, Ilmarinen forges the Sampo for Louhi. This relic provides her kingdom of Pohjola with unlimited resources and wealth. Eventually, the heroes attempt to retrieve this relic, but it gets lost at sea. As it produces salt for one of its functions, this is the reason why the sea is salty.
- The Golden Maiden: After the death of his wife, Ilmarinen attempts to forge the perfect woman. He creates her out of gold, silver, and jewels. Although his craftsmanship is impeccable, she turns out to be cold and unloving. This lesson warns of the dangers of replacing human warmth and interaction with wealth.
What does the Sampo do?
The Sampo is a magical mill that creates an unlimited supply of resources. It has three sections: one for creating grain and flour, another for creating salt, and the last for creating gold. Possessing this artifact makes Pohjola a source of never-ending wealth and prosperity.
How did Väinämöinen trick Ilmarinen into forging the Sampo?
After promising Louhi he'd create the Sampo, Väinämöinen asks Ilmarinen for help. But the blacksmith refuses. Next, Väinämöinen lies to his companion, stating the sun and the moon are stuck among the branches of a tree. As Ilmarinen climbs the tree to investigate, Väinämöinen summons a strong wind with his magic and blows Ilmarinen into Pohjola.
Did Ukko help Ilmarinen forge the Sampo?
Yes, Ilmarinen is the person responsible for forging the Sampo; however, his first attempts are unsuccessful. He calls upon the "Old Man," or Ukko, to bestow his heavenly force to bless the fire. This request results in a divine blessing on the forge's fire, granting it the qualities needed to complete the forging. While Ukko doesn't play a hand in making the Sampo, he helps Ilmarinen get the right kind of fire to complete the task.
Who did Ilmarinen marry?
Ilmarinen marries the Maiden of Pohjola, Louhi's beautiful daughter. She protests the wedding, as she has to leave her land, and becomes bitter as his wife in Väinölä.
Did Ilmarinen have children?
No, Ilmarinen and his wife never had children. However, they took on Kullervo as a servant boy to help them around the smith. Despite his help, the Maiden of Pohjola is cruel to the boy and plays tricks on him.
What happened to Ilmarinen's wife?
Kullervo, their servant, ultimately kills Ilmarinen's wife. After breaking his knife, the only memento from his slain family, Kullervo becomes enraged. He summons a pack of bears and wolves disguised as cows, tricking her into tending to them. The creatures maul Ilmarinen's wife as Kullervo escapes.
What was the lesson of the "Golden Bride"?
After the death of his wife, Ilmarinen attempts to forge a perfect wife from gold and silver. The "Golden Bride" is cold and unloving. Despite his skill, Ilmarinen feels more alone than ever. This story teaches the value of genuine companionship over material wealth.