# Untamoinen — The Kalevala character guide

> Untamoinen in The Kalevala by Elias Lönnrot.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** grave Untamoinen, Messengers of Untamoinen

**First appearance:** 0034-rune-xxxi-kullerwoinen-son-of-evil

## Snapshot

The grim brother whose feud with Kalervo wipes out a family and leaves a vengeful orphan, Kullervo, growing up in his enemy's house.

## Who they are

Untamoinen wages war on his own brother Kalervo, burns his villages, and takes the survivors into servitude, including the pregnant mother of Kullervo. He tries three times to kill the magic child, drowning him in a basket and burning him in a kiln, but the boy survives each attempt. His cruelty plants the seed of the tragedy that will consume Kullervo and darken the whole middle of the epic.

## Relationships

### [Kullervo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/kullervo)

_family_

Untamoinen is Kullervo's uncle who enslaves him and kills his family, sparking a cycle of vengeance.

### [Kullervo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/kullervo)

_family_

Untamoinen is Kullervo's uncle who enslaves him and kills his family, sparking a cycle of vengeance.

## In the story

### [Rune V: Wainamoinen’s Lamentation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-v-wainamoinen-s-lamentation)

Wainamoinen asks Untamoinen about the location of the water-maidens.

### [Rune XXXI: Kullerwoinen Son of Evil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xxxi-kullerwoinen-son-of-evil)

The evil-minded brother who kills Kalervo's people and repeatedly tries to kill Kullervo, eventually selling him to Ilmarinen.

### [Rune XXXIV: Kullervo Finds His Tribe-Folk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xxxiv-kullervo-finds-his-tribe-folk)

Mentioned as the destroyer of Kullervo's people; Kullervo vows to avenge his father's murder against him.

### [Rune XXXV: Kullervo's Evil Deeds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xxxv-kullervo-s-evil-deeds)

Mentioned as the unavenged enemy of Kullervo's family.

### [Rune XXXVI: Kullerwoinen’s Victory and Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xxxvi-kullerwoinen-s-victory-and-death)

Kullervo's enemy; his people are slaughtered and villages burned by Kullervo in revenge.

## Links

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