MINKS OF FINLAND

Tapiola - in Finnish mythology, a country subject to the god of the forest of Tapio, a forest country - that is, one of the poetic names of Finland. "Tapiola" Sibelius - one of the last of his works - the allegory of his forest land, the embodiment of all the soil, "native" and Finnish, that is, in this sense - archaic, primitive: the country of primeval forests with a secret nature life, inconspicuous and " north-faded "externally, but executed, if you look closely (listen) the inner secret life, in fact - the most sophisticated and diverse. "Tapiola" is related to the imagery of the Fifth Symphony, but it is, as it were, the concentrate of its most intimate. "Tapiola" is a quiet life of nature and a quiet hymn to the edge of Tapio, lyrical and penetrating from all created by Sibelius.

LUNONTAR ("the maiden of nature") - in the Finnish mythology the goddess-creator. In the beginning, only Luonnothar was alone in the middle of a vast emptiness. " When she was tired of living in heaven, the virgin jumped into the cosmic ocean and swam along it until the eagle twisted the nest on her knee. Unexpectedly, the goddess destroyed the nest, the eggs were broken. The yolks became the sun of the squirrel-moon, the fragments of the shell turned into stars. Later, Luonnothar created the continents and gave birth to Vainamoinen.

UCKO is the supreme god of thunder, the master of the sky and air, who gives the rain. Cancer created lunar eclipses, Väinämöinen created songs, from Ilmarinen depended the weather on the sea and a successful voyage, Turis-sas brought victory in the battle, Kratoy cared about the property of man, Tontu-on the household. Apparently, the higher gods were heavenly - the elder Ukko and the god of storm Ilmarinen.

Finns worshiped TAPIO - the deity of the forest, who helped hunters. He could send booty, but could drive a man to death in the woods. It was from Tapio that depended on the number of game in the forest, and the luck in the hunt was in the hands of Hyishi; Nirkes contributed to the hunt for protein, Hatavainen - to hares. Ahti, the god of waters, gave fish, but a rich catch in the network sent Veden-em ("mother of waters"). Лекио - the god of grasses, roots of trees. The farmers were taken care of: Pellon Pe-ko - the spirit of barley, Virankaninos-the owl; Egres gave a rich harvest of beans, peas, turnips, cabbage, flax and hemp; Köñös patronized the plowing. The Finns worshiped TAPIO - the deity of the forest, who helped the hunters. He could send booty, but could drive a man to death in the woods. It was from Tapio that depended on the number of game in the forest, and the luck in the hunt was in the hands of Hyishi; Nirkes contributed to the hunt for protein, Hatavainen - to hares. Ahti, the god of waters, gave fish, but a rich catch in the network sent Veden-em ("mother of waters"). Лекио - the god of grasses, roots of trees. The farmers were taken care of: Pellon Pe-ko - the spirit of barley, Virankaninos-the owl; Egres gave a rich harvest of beans, peas, turnips, cabbage, flax and hemp; Köndos patronized the plowing.

VYAYNAMYYNEN was born already old and wise, as he spent 30 years in the womb of his mother. He is considered to be the patron of the country of Kalev (the "homeland of heroes"), Vainajmainen was endowed with amazing magical abilities. However, God could not find a companion of life. Joukahainen promised his sister Aino to his wife when Väinämöinen defeated him in singing. But Aino rushed to the river, just not to marry the old man, and turned into a salmon.

LEMMINKYAINEN is one of the main characters of Kalevala. As a child, the mother atoned for it three times a summer night and nine times-more so that the son could acquire the wisdom and gift of the singer. He discovered forest secrets, he became a skilled hunter, who possessed magical spells. Calling on the help of the forest god Tapio, his wife - the forest owner Meilikki and their daughter Tuliki - the goddess of the wind, he managed to catch the magical beasts of the sorcerer Hiishi. But in the gloomy land of the dead, where Lemminkäinen went for Tuony's swan, his spells were powerless.

In the dark country of Tuonel, from where almost no one came back, lived TUONI, the god of the dead, with his wife Tuonetar. They had seven children - deities of suffering, including Kipu-Titto, the goddess of disease. In search of magical amulets, Väinämöinen visited Tuoni. Crossing the black river, he met Toonetar, who gave him a magical beer. While the guest was asleep, Son Tuonetar placed an iron grating across the river to prevent Väinämöinen from returning home. However, the hero turned to the otter and overcame the obstacle.