Kullervo's mother

Family: House of Kalervo · Role: mother · First appears: Runo XXXI · Untamo and Kullervo · Part 1

In Runo XXXI, after Untamo’s people left only one girl of Kalervo’s folk alive, she was taken to sweep their floors. She gave birth to Kullervo and named him; Untamo called him the Battle-hero.

In Runo XXXIV, when Kullervo returned, his mother recognized him and told him that his sister had disappeared while gathering berries. In Runo XXXVI, Kullervo learned that his mother had died.

Relationship record

Life events

• Untamo's people left alive only one girl of Kalervo's folk, who was pregnant, and took her home to sweep their floors.(Runo XXXI · Untamo and Kullervo · Part 1)
  • With: Untamo
  • “Left of Kalervo's folk only But one girl, and she was pregnant; Then did Untamo's assemblage Lead her homeward on their journey, That she there might sweep the chamber, And the floor might sweep from litter.”
• Kullervo was born, and his mother named him Kullervo while Untamo called him the Battle-hero.(Runo XXXI · Untamo and Kullervo · Part 1)
  • With: Kullervo Untamo
  • “But a little time passed over, When a little boy was born her, From a most unhappy mother, So by what name should they call him? Kullervo his mother called him, Untamo, the Battle-hero.”
• Kullervo returns to his family and his mother recognizes him as her son.(Runo XXXIV · Kullervo and His Parents · Part 2)
  • With: Kullervo
  • “Then his mother interrupted, And exclaimed the aged woman, “O my son, my son unhappy, O my golden brooch so wretched, Hast thou then, with eyes yet living, Wandered through these countries hither, When as dead I long had mourned thee, Long had wept for thy destruction?”
• Kullervo's mother reports that his sister disappeared while gathering berries and died.(Runo XXXIV · Kullervo and His Parents · Part 2 · 📍 the wood)
  • With: Kullervo's sister
  • “Thus has disappeared my daughter, Thus it happened to your sister. To the wood she went for berries, Sought for raspberries 'neath the mountain, There it is the dove has vanished, There it is the bird has perished, Thus she died without our knowledge, How she died we cannot tell you.”
• Kullervo learns that his mother has died.(Runo XXXVI · The Death of Kullervo · Part 2)
  • “Now has died thy tender mother, And thy darling mother perished. Now return to gaze upon her, And arrange for her interment.”

Runo XXXI · Untamo and Kullervo · Part 1

• employer: Untamo (She is compelled to work in Untamo's household.) “Then did Untamo's assemblage Lead her homeward on their journey, That she there might sweep the chamber, And the floor might sweep from litter.”
• child: Kullervo “But a little time passed over, When a little boy was born her, From a most unhappy mother, So by what name should they call him? Kullervo his mother called him,”

Runo XXXIV · Kullervo and His Parents · Part 2

• child: Kullervo “And on earth in health your mother.”

Runo XXXV · Kullervo and His Sister · Part 2

• child: Kullervo “O my mother who hast borne me, O that thou, my dearest mother,”
• child: Kullervo's sister “When I was a little infant, Living with my tender mother,”

Runo XXXVI · The Death of Kullervo · Part 1

• child: Kullervo “Thou the fair one who hast borne me, Thou the golden one who nursed me,”

Runo XXXVI · The Death of Kullervo · Part 2

• child: Kullervo “Kullervo, Kalervo's offspring, Answered in the words which follow: “Woe to me, a youth unhappy, For my mother now has perished,”

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