Väinämöinen

Väinämöinen is a demigod, hero and the central character in Finnish folklore and the main character in the national epic Kalevala. His name comes from the Finnish word väinä, meaning stream pool. Väinämöinen was described as an old (in fact already old when born) and wise man, and he possessed a potent, magical voice.

R.W Ekman: Väinämöinen

Quotes

• Suns may rise and set in Suomi, / Rise and set for generations, / When the North will learn my teachings, / Will recall my wisdom-sayings, / Hungry for the true religion. / Then will Suomi need my coming, / Watch for me at dawn of morning, / That I may bring back the Sampo, / Bring anew the harp of joyance, / Bring again the golden moonlight, / Bring again the silver sunshine, / Peace and plenty to the Northland.
  • Jonathan Clements, An Armchair Traveller's History of Finland, 2014, bookHaus, ISBN 978-1-909961-00-5

(Sampo was made by blacksmith Ilmarinen. Paavo Haavikko claimed that it was a device to counterfeit Byzantine money, in the TV-serie Rauta-aika)