Kalevala
The Finnish national epic, compiled by Elias Lönnrot from folk singers' oral poems in the 19th century.
Core Characteristics
- Published in its expanded form in 1849, assembled from collected rune-songs of Karelia and Finland.
- Follows Väinämöinen the eternal sage, the smith Ilmarinen, and the doomed Lemminkäinen against Pohjola.
- Its forging of the Sampo made the poem the cornerstone of Finnish identity and language.
Related Concepts & Sources
Oral Tradition, European, Culture Hero
Wikidata Authority Record
- Canonical Label
- Kalevala
- Verified Description
- 19th-century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology
Identified as: 19th-century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology. Source: Wikidata Q130924.
Classified As