Markahattu

Family: Pohjola · Role: cowherd · First appears: Runo XII · Lemminkainen's First Expedition to Pohjola · Part 3

In Runo XII, after Lemminkainen sang the other men away, Markahattu was the one man spared: an old cowherd, blind and sightless. Angered, he fled to Tuonela’s river and waited for Lemminkainen to return from Pohja.

In Runo XIV, Markahattu sent a serpent from the waves through Lemminkainen’s heart and liver, then cast him into Tuoni’s river. In Runo XV, Lemminkainen described the attack as Markahattu having sent him down to Manala.

Relationship record

Life events

• Lemminkainen spared Markahattu while singing the other men away.(Runo XII · Lemminkainen's First Expedition to Pohjola · Part 3)
  • With: Lemminkainen
  • “Then the lively Lemminkainen Sang his songs against the swordsmen. Sang the heroes with their weapons, Sang the young men, sang the old men, And the men of age between them, And his songs spared one man only, And he was a wicked cowherd. Old, with eyes both closed and sightless.”
• Markahattu fled to Tuonela's river and waited to ambush Lemminkainen on his return.(Runo XII · Lemminkainen's First Expedition to Pohjola · Part 3 · 📍 Tuonela)
  • With: Lemminkainen
  • “Through the open door went quickly, Through the yard to open country, Ran to Tuonela's deep river, To the dreadful river's whirlpool, Waited there for Kaukomieli, Waited there for Lemminkainen, Till on his return from Pohja, He should make his journey homeward.”
• Markahattu shoots a serpent from the waves through Lemminkainen's heart and liver.(Runo XIV · Lemminkainen's Death · Part 3 · 📍 Tuonela)
  • With: Lemminkainen
  • “And at length one day it happened, Came the lively Lemminkainen Hasting on, and swift approaching Unto Tuonela's deep river, To the cataract most terrific, To the sacred river's whirlpool. From the waves he sent a serpent, Like a reed from out the billows; Through the hero's heart he hurled it, And through Lemminkainen's liver. Through the arm-pit left it smote him, Through the shoulder right it struck him.”
• Markahattu casts the wounded Lemminkainen into Tuoni's river.(Runo XIV · Lemminkainen's Death · Part 3 · 📍 Tuoni's murky river)
  • With: Lemminkainen
  • “Then did Pohjola's blind greybeard, Markahattu, he the cowherd, Fling the lively Lemminkainen, Casting Kaleva's own offspring Into Tuoni's murky river, In the worst of all the whirlpools.”
• Markahattu sent Lemminkainen down to Manala in a water-serpent attack.(Runo XV · Lemminkainen's Recovery and Return Home · Part 4 · 📍 Manala)
  • With: Lemminkainen
  • “Markahattu, he the cowherd, Untamola's blind old rascal, Down to Manala has sent me, There to drift in Tuoni's river; And he raised a water-serpent, From the waves a serpent lifted, Sent it forth to me unhappy, But I could not guard against it, Knowing nought of water-evil, Nor the evils of the reed-beds.”

Runo XII · Lemminkainen's First Expedition to Pohjola · Part 3

• enemies with Lemminkainen “Markahattu then, the cowherd, Greatly vexed, and greatly angry, Through the open door went quickly, Through the yard to open country, Ran to Tuonela's deep river, To the dreadful river's whirlpool, Waited there for Kaukomieli, Waited there for Lemminkainen, Till on his return from Pohja, He should make his journey homeward.”

Runo XIV · Lemminkainen's Death · Part 3

• enemies with Lemminkainen “From the waves he sent a serpent, Like a reed from out the billows; Through the hero's heart he hurled it, And through Lemminkainen's liver. Through the arm-pit left it smote him, Through the shoulder right it struck him.”

Runo XV · Lemminkainen's Recovery and Return Home · Part 4

• enemies with Lemminkainen “Markahattu, he the cowherd, Untamola's blind old rascal, Down to Manala has sent me, There to drift in Tuoni's river; And he raised a water-serpent, From the waves a serpent lifted, Sent it forth to me unhappy,”

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Extracted from the original text of Kalevala. Made with Rho MD.