Maid of Pohja

Also known as: Bride of Pohja / Ilmarinen's housewife / Ilmarinen's wife / Wife of Ilmarinen / little maid of Pohja / lovely maid of Pohja · Family: Pohjola · Role: Louhi's daughter, Ilmarinen's wife · First appears: Runo VIII · Väinämöinen's Wound · Part 1

In Runo VIII, the Maid of Pohja refused Väinämöinen’s invitation to ride in his sledge, setting him the task of making and launching a boat without touching it. In Runo X, Louhi offered her daughter to Ilmarinen as the reward for forging the Sampo. He asked the Maid of Pohja to marry him, but she initially refused to leave her maiden life. In Runo XIV, Lemminkainen also sought her, but Louhi made the marriage conditional on his shooting the river-swan.

In Runo XVIII, the Maid of Pohja refused Väinämöinen’s proposal and chose Ilmarinen, saying, “I, a maid undowered, will follow Ilmarinen, skilful craftsman”. In Runo XIX, she helped him with the tasks set for him and swore to be his friend; Louhi promised her to Ilmarinen as his wife. In Runo XXII, she lamented leaving her family and homeland, and in Runo XXIII Osmotar instructed her in how to conduct herself in her husband’s house. In Runo XXIV, she departed Pohjola with Ilmarinen and arrived with him at Ilma’s homestead; in Runo XXV, she entered his household as his bride, after a long courtship.

In Runo XXXII, the Maid of Pohja, now Ilmarinen’s wife, took Kullervo as her herdsman and sent him and the cattle to pasture. In Runo XXXIII, Kullervo drove wolves and bears home against her, and she died in the yard before her homestead. In Runo XXXIV and Runo XXXVII, her death is recalled.