# Kyllikki — The Kalevala character guide

> Kyllikki in The Kalevala by Elias Lönnrot.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** fair Kyllikki, false Kyllikki

**First appearance:** 0015-rune-xii-kyllikki-s-broken-vow

## Snapshot

The Maid of Sahri won by Lemminkainen after a wild courtship, whose single evening at the village dance shatters their sworn peace.

## Who they are

Kyllikki is the beautiful, spirited bride Lemminkainen carries off from Sahri after a chase across meadows and seas. They vow to keep him from war and her from dancing, but one night of fishing and one dance in the village break the pact. Her broken vow becomes the pretext for Lemminkainen's reckless ride to Lapland, launching the cycle of his doomed adventures.

## Relationships

### [Lemminkainen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/lemminkainen)

_romantic_

Kyllikki is Lemminkainen's wife, whom he abducts and later struggles to keep faithful.

### [Lemminkainen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/lemminkainen)

_romantic_

Kyllikki is Lemminkainen's wife, whom he abducts and later struggles to keep faithful.

## In the story

### [Rune XI: Lemminkainen’s Lament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xi-lemminkainen-s-lament)

The beautiful maiden of Sahri who is abducted by Lemminkainen and laments her lost freedom.

### [Rune XII: Kyllikki’s Broken Vow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xii-kyllikki-s-broken-vow)

Breaks her vow by attending village dances; later begs forgiveness but is rejected by Lemminkainen.

### [Rune XIII: Lemminkainen's Second Wooing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xiii-lemminkainen-s-second-wooing)

Lemminkainen's current wife, mentioned by Louhi as a reason to refuse his new suit.

### [Rune XV: Lemminkainen’s Restoration](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xv-lemminkainen-s-restoration)

Lemminkainen's wife, who discovers the blood on his hairbrush and fears his death.

### [Rune XXIX: The Isle of Refuge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xxix-the-isle-of-refuge)

Not directly present, but Lemminkainen's mother is mentioned as his 'helpful mother' and later mourned.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/kyllikki
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters