Tuonetar
Goddess of Death
Karelian / Finnish Mythology
Tuonetar is the Goddess of Death, Queen of Tuonela, and spouse of Tuoni. She is responsible for welcoming new souls into the Tuonela (the Underworld). In addition, Tuonetar ensures those who enter cannot leave.
Tuonetar is a pale queen with hollow eyes, sometimes reflective by nature. She embodies sorrow, stillness, calmness, and melancholy. The Goddess of Death wears a flowing black dress, veil, and crown, and resides in the Hall of Tuonela.
Unlike in other mythologies, folklore, or religions, Tuonela isn’t a place for punishment. It’s simply a still place where the souls of the dead can rest in peace. As such, Tuonetar offers hospitality for the souls that enter her kingdom. However, this hospitality comes at a price. Those who accept it are henceforth unable to leave Tuonela.
In fact, the only beings allowed to leave Tuonela are Tuonetar herself and her children. Loviatar is the blind daughter of Tuonetar who is the Goddess of Disease and Suffering. Loviatar has nine sons (Tuonetar’s grandchildren), who embody the nine diseases that plague the world.
- Domain: Death, disease, the Underworld
- Realm: Tuonela
- Symbol: Snakes, Tuonela River
- Weapon/Relic: Beer of Oblivion
- Spouse: Tuoni
- Children: Loviatar
- Worship: None
- Offerings: Dark flowers, candles, coins, snakes
- Holidays: None
Beer of Oblivion
Those who enter Tuonela are immediately greeted by Tuonetar and offered the Beer of Oblivion. It is brewed from frog spawn, young snakes, adder venom, lizards, and worms. It erases the living memories from the souls of the dead, allowing them to rest peacefully in the realm of Tuonela.
This drink is the first of Tuonetar’s illusory hospitality. She also offers feasts made from similar ingredients to comfort the souls that enter her realm. Tuonetar is solely responsible for ensuring that those who enter Tuonela cannot leave. However, the River of Tuonela is also guarded by the Swan of Tuonela and a giant metal net to prevent the dead from leaving the realm.
Väinämöinen’s Journey to Tuonela
Tuonetar appears in the Kalevala when Väinämöinen travels to Tuonela in Cantos 16 and 17. The hero must learn three sacred words to build a boat without wielding an axe. Despite warnings otherwise, Väinämöinen travels to the Underworld to learn the three magic words from an ancient giant named Antero Vipunen.
After crossing the River Tuoni, Väinämöinen is offered the Beer of Oblivion from Tuonetar. However, Väinämöinen sees that it is a poisonous drink and merely pretends to drink it. He then pretends to fall asleep, knowing that if he consumes the drink, he will never be able to leave the Underworld.
Väinämöinen goes on to meet Antero Vipunen, and after a battle of words, he fails to learn the three magic words he sought after. But the challenge to leave Tuonela is still filled with peril. The Swan of Tuonela still guards the river. Furthermore, Tuoni’s son, Tuonenpoika, guards the river with his snakes.
Väinämöinen attempts to swim across the river but comes across the metal net. With his magical abilities, he transforms himself into a snake and squeezes through the net. He narrowly evades Tuonenpoika and arrives on the shore of the living. Exhausted but alive, Väinämöinen leaves the land of Tuonela.
