Tale of Kullervo: Ancient Finnish Myth

All across the world, many cultures have developed their own myths and folktales, either to explain the natural of order of things or to provide a creative medium to pass wisdom from one generation to the next. Many of the more popular ones include the typical Greek and Roman myths of gods and heroes engaged in the complex dance of drama and entwined fate. Such stories may usually include cautionary lessons sometimes regarding the dangers of arrogance, greed, or even misplaced love.

But one lesser known, more obscure myth--one that tackles far deeper issues than the usual ones most common to everyone, comes from the snowy land of Finland. This myth, or folktale, is part of a larger epic poem known as the Kalevala, which is considered to be the Finnish national epic compiled in the 19^th century by Finn Elias Lonnrot from ancient oral poetry. This myth is the Tale of Kullervo.

At the beginning of the myth, two brothers are born and separated, Kalervo and Untamo (Untamoinen in the translated text). They both grow up to be men and they settle into two different lands. But one day, Untamo lays his fish nets into the waters of Kalervo and Kalervo, seeing this, steals Untamo's net along with any fish that Untamo caught with it. And from there, a cycle of vengeance begins, culminating to the ultimate destruction of Kalervo's tribe by Untamo and the virgin birth of Kullervo by Untamala (Kalervo's daughter), who survives only by submitting to Untamo.

From here the story shifts to Kullervo (Kullerwoinen in the translated text) who, at only three months old, is heard making vows of vengeance against Untamo and his tribe. Untamo, hearing this, tries three times to kill Kullervo, but in all three times Kullervo survives due to his inborn magical abilities. Finally, Untamo gives up and decides to put Kullervo, who's now a young youth, to work. He assigns him to multiple tasks (cutting down trees, threshing grain, etc.), but Kullervo, because he's overpowered with magic, unintentionally fails at every task. As a result, he ends up being sold as a slave to a blacksmith named Ilmarinen after Untamo declares: