Wainamoinen

Youkahainen

Wainamoinen defeats Youkahainen in a singing contest, leading to a bitter rivalry and Youkahainen's vow of revenge.

Ilmarinen

Ilmarinen and Wainamoinen are fellow heroes and companions, often collaborating on quests and adventures.

Aino

Wainamoinen pursues Aino as a bride, but she rejects him and ultimately drowns herself to escape the marriage.

Lemminkainen

Lemminkainen and Wainamoinen are fellow heroes who often travel together and aid each other in battles.

Otso

Otso the bear is a powerful adversary whom Wainamoinen must hunt and defeat in a ritualistic contest.

Louhi

Louhi, the Mistress of Pohjola, is a cunning antagonist who opposes Wainamoinen's quests for the Sampo.

Ukko

Ukko, the supreme god, occasionally aids Wainamoinen with divine interventions and magical gifts.

Tuoni

Tuoni, the god of death, opposes Wainamoinen's attempts to enter the underworld and retrieve magical knowledge.

Mana

Mana, as a death deity, opposes Wainamoinen's intrusions into the realm of the dead.

Otso

Otso the bear is a powerful adversary whom Wainamoinen must hunt and defeat in a ritualistic contest.

Ukko

Ukko, the supreme god, occasionally aids Wainamoinen with divine interventions and magical gifts.

Ilmarinen

Ilmarinen and Wainamoinen are fellow heroes and companions, often collaborating on quests and adventures.

The Kalevala

Central hero and wise singer, central to the epic's opening.

Proem

Referenced as the source of ancient legends, born from the Ether's daughter.

Rune I: Birth of Wainamoinen

The unborn hero who lingers in the womb for thirty years, forces his own birth, swims for years, and finally emerges onto land.

Rune II: Wainamoinen's Sowing

The ancient hero who sows the island, orchestrates the felling of the great oak, and plants barley with the help of Ukko.

Rune III: Wainamoinen and Youkahainen

The ancient minstrel of Kalevala, challenged by Youkahainen; uses his magic to subdue the boastful youth.

Rune IV: The Fate of Aino

The ancient minstrel who proposes to Aino, causing her distress.

Rune V: Wainamoinen’s Lamentation

Grieves for Aino, attempts to catch her as a mermaid, and is rebuked by her spirit.

Rune VI: Wainamoinen’s Hapless Journey

The ancient hero and enchanter who journeys to Northland and is shot into the sea by Youkahainen.

Rune VII: Wainamoinen’s Rescue

Swims for days in the ocean, is rescued by an eagle, weeps on the shore of Pohyola, is taken in by Louhi, and negotiates his return home.

Rune VIII: Maiden of the Rainbow

Ancient minstrel who woos the Maiden of the Rainbow, performs impossible tasks, and is wounded while building a boat.

Rune IX: Origin of Iron

The wounded minstrel who recounts the origin of iron and is healed by the gray-beard magician.

Rune X: Ilmarinen Forges the Sampo

Returns to Kalevala and persuades Ilmarinen to go to Pohyola by describing the Maiden's beauty and showing a magical fir-tree.

Rune XV: Lemminkainen’s Restoration

Not directly present, but referenced as part of the setting (Wainola fields).

Rune XVI: Wainamoinen's Boat-Building

The ancient minstrel and wisdom-singer builds a magic boat but lacks three key words; he journeys to Tuoni's kingdom to find them, using deception and finally escaping by shape-shifting.

Rune XVII: Wainamoinen Finds the Lost-Word

The old and truthful hero seeks the lost magic words, journeys to Wipunen, and is swallowed; he forges inside Wipunen's body and ultimately obtains the words.

Rune XVIII: The Rival Suitors

Sets sail for Pohyola in a magically decorated vessel to woo the Maid of Beauty, but is rejected upon arrival.

Rune XIX: Ilmarinen's Wooing

The ancient minstrel who appears at the end, lamenting his age and rejected suit, and issuing a decree that old men should not go wooing.

Rune XX: The Brewing of Beer

Mentioned as the famous bard and wisdom-singer who is to be invited to the wedding.

Rune XXI: Ilmarinen’s Wedding-Feast

Present at the feast; speaks through the beer, calling for songs and praising the drink.

Rune XXV: Wainamoinen’s Wedding-Songs

Sings wedding songs, later repairs his sledge after a journey to Tuoni's realm.

Rune XXVII: The Unwelcome Guest

Not directly present in this chapter.

Rune XXXVI: Kullerwoinen’s Victory and Death

The ancient minstrel learns of Kullervo's death and delivers a moral warning about the dangers of neglecting children.

Ilmarinen's Bride of Gold

Refuses Ilmarinen's golden bride, warning against marrying a metal image.

Rune XXXVIII: Ilmarinen’s Fruitless Wooing

Old and truthful, he meets Ilmarinen on the highway and asks about his journey and the welfare of Pohyola.

Rune XXXIX: Wainamoinen's Sailing

Leads the quest to seize the Sampo, forges a magic sword, and magically animates a ship.

Birth of the Harp

Steers the vessel, kills the giant pike, and crafts the magical harp from its bones.

Rune XLI: Wainamoinen’s Harp-Songs

Ancient minstrel and eternal wisdom-singer who plays the harp he created, enchanting all of nature and drawing tears from his audience and himself.

Rune XLII: Capture of the Sampo

Leads the expedition, uses magic harp to enchant the Northlanders, steers the ship, and subdues Iku-Turso.

Rune XLIII: The Sampo Lost in the Sea

Leads the heroes, uses magic to create a reef, fights Louhi, and gathers Sampo fragments for Kalevala's prosperity.

Rune XLIV: Birth of the Second Harp

The ancient minstrel and magician who, after losing his first harp, creates a second harp from a sacred birch tree and enchants all of nature with his playing.

Rune XLV: Birth of the Nine Diseases

The wise enchanter who heals the people of Kalevala by using magic baths, prayers, and balsams.

Rune XLVI: Otso the Honey-Eater

Ancient minstrel and hero; leads the hunt for Otso, speaks respectfully to the bear, and oversees the ritual feast.

Rune XLVII: Louhi Steals Sun, Moon, and Fire

Ancient minstrel who sings and plays the harp, then journeys with Ilmarinen to recover the stolen fire.

Rune XLVIII: Capture of the Fire-Fish

The ancient singer and magician who orchestrates the capture of the Fire-pike and returns fire to Kalevala.

Rune XLIX: Restoration of the Sun and Moon

The wise old magician who discovers the location of the hidden Sun and Moon, attempts to free them, and ultimately orchestrates their return.

Rune L: Mariatta—Wainamoinen’s Departure

Ancient wisdom-singer who judges the infant harshly but later departs from Kalevala.

Epilogue

The singer-speaker of the epilogue, who ends his measured singing and reflects on his life and art.