Ilmarinen

Also known as: smith Ilmarinen / the great primeval craftsman · Family: Kalevala · Role: smith · First appears: Runo X · The Forging of the Sampo · Part 2

In Väinämöinen’s account in Runo IX, Ilmarinen was born and nurtured on charcoal hills and plains, with a copper hammer and pincers. He built his smithy, found iron ore and steel in wolf and bear tracks, and carried the ore from the marshes to his forge. In the tale of iron’s origin, he forged iron into weapons and tools; deceived by a hornet he mistook for a bee, he used its poisoned mixture to temper the iron.

In Runo X, Väinämöinen promised Ilmarinen as surety to save himself in Pohjola, then sang up a tempest that carried the smith there. Louhi offered Maid of Pohja as a reward if he forged a Sampo, and Ilmarinen agreed. After rejecting several creations, he completed the Sampo with its corn-, salt- and coin-mills, asked for Maid of Pohja as his reward, and returned home. In Runo XV, he forged a rake for Lemminkainen's mother to help recover Lemminkainen.

In Runo XVIII, Annikki told Ilmarinen that Väinämöinen was travelling to woo the maiden promised to him. The two men agreed not to take or wed her by force, and in Pohjola Maid of Pohja chose Ilmarinen, saying, “I, a maid undowered, will follow Ilmarinen, skilful craftsman”. In Runo XIX, she advised him as he undertook the tasks set for him; he ploughed the field of vipers, muzzled the Wolf of Mana and fettered the Bear of Tuoni. Louhi promised Maid of Pohja to him, and in Runo XXI Ilmarinen arrived at Pohjola with the bridegroom’s party. He departed with the maiden in Runo XXIV, and they reached his homestead; in Runo XXV, Lokka welcomed their return and Maid of Pohja entered his household as his bride.

After his wife’s death, recorded in Runo XXXIV, Ilmarinen tried to fashion a bride of gold and silver in Runo XXXVII, but the golden maiden could not support herself or embrace him. He brought her to Väinämöinen as a possible wife, then cast her away. In Runo XXXVIII, Ilmarinen asked Louhi for her second daughter; when Louhi refused, he seized the maiden and carried her off. He sang her into a seamew. Later, he forged a sword for Väinämöinen, helped Lemminkainen during the expedition against Pohjola, and made tools and weapons for Väinämöinen. In Runo XLVIII, he found a way to quench the fire and recovered from its wounds; in Runo XLIX, he forged a moon and sun that gave no light, then made weapons and keys for Väinämöinen to use in rescuing them.