Pohjola
Encyclopedia
Pohjola or Pohja is a location
in Finnish mythology
, sometimes translated in English as Northland or Pohjoland. It is one of the two main polarities in the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala
, along with Kaleva or Väinölä. Its name is derived from the word pohjoinen meaning the compass point north. Pohjoinen, for its part, may have a cognate in the word pohja (base, bottom).
Different interpretations of the origins of the mythical Pohjola exist. One of them associates it with the Sami
, the northern neighbours of the Finns. Some include parts of Lapland and ancient Kainuu in Kalevala's Pohjola. Some point out a similarity with the name Pohjanmaa (Ostrobothnia
in English), a region in western Finland. Pohjola has also been thought of as a purely abstract place, the source of evil — a foreboding, a forever cold land far in the north.
In Kalevala, the Mistress of Pohjola is Louhi
, an evil witch of great power. The great smith Seppo Ilmarinen
forges the Sampo
at her request as a payment for the hand of her daughter in marriage. The Sampo is a magic mill of plenty like the Cornucopia
, which churns out abundance, but its churning lid has also been interpreted as a symbol of the celestial vault of the heavens, embedded with stars, revolving around a central axis or the pillar of the world. Other Kalevala characters also seek marriage with the daughters of Pohjola. These include the adventurer Lemminkäinen
and the great wise man Väinämöinen
. Louhi demands deeds similar to the forging of Sampo from them, such as shooting the Swan of Tuonela
. When the proposer finally gets the daughter, weddings and great drinking and eating parties are held at the great hall of Pohjola.
The foundation of the world pillar, also thought of as the root of the "world tree", was probably located, from the Finnish mythological perspective, somewhere just over the northern horizon, in Pohjola. The pillar was thought to rest on the Pohjantähti or North Star (also known as the pole star in English). The forging and hoarding of the Sampo and its abundance by the witch Louhi inside a great mountain in the dark reaches of Pohjola; the struggle and war by the people of the south to free the Sampo and capture it for their own needs and the subsequent shattering of the Sampo and the loss of its all-important lid (which implies the breaking of the world tree at the north pole) together constitute the bulk of the Kalevala material.
The Finnish metal band "Sentenced
" used the frozen land of "Pohjola" as inspiration for the albums "Journey to Pohjola" and the Finnish death metal pillar album "North from Here
" released in 1992 and 1993.
for the Nordic countries
, the equivalent of which in Scandinavian languages is Norden
http://www.pohjola-norden.fi.
Mythical place
Places which appear in mythology, folklore or religious texts or tradition, but which are not probably genuine places, include:...
in Finnish mythology
Finnish mythology
Finnish mythology is the mythology that went with Finnish paganism which was practised by the Finnish people prior to Christianisation. It has many features shared with fellow Finnic Estonian mythology and its non-Finnic neighbours, the Balts and the Scandinavians...
, sometimes translated in English as Northland or Pohjoland. It is one of the two main polarities in the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala
Kalevala
The Kalevala is a 19th century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Finnish and Karelian oral folklore and mythology.It is regarded as the national epic of Finland and is one of the most significant works of Finnish literature...
, along with Kaleva or Väinölä. Its name is derived from the word pohjoinen meaning the compass point north. Pohjoinen, for its part, may have a cognate in the word pohja (base, bottom).
Different interpretations of the origins of the mythical Pohjola exist. One of them associates it with the Sami
Sami people
The Sami people, also spelled Sámi, or Saami, are the arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe’s northernmost...
, the northern neighbours of the Finns. Some include parts of Lapland and ancient Kainuu in Kalevala's Pohjola. Some point out a similarity with the name Pohjanmaa (Ostrobothnia
Ostrobothnia (region)
Ostrobothnia is a region of Finland. It is located in Western Finland. It borders the regions Central Ostrobothnia, Southern Ostrobothnia, and Satakunta and is one of the four regions making up the historical province of Ostrobothnia....
in English), a region in western Finland. Pohjola has also been thought of as a purely abstract place, the source of evil — a foreboding, a forever cold land far in the north.
In Kalevala, the Mistress of Pohjola is Louhi
Louhi
Louhi is a queen of the land known as Pohjola in Finnish mythology and the mythology of Lapland.-In mythology:Louhi is described as a powerful witch with the ability to change shape and weave mighty enchantments. She is also the main opponent of Väinämöinen and his group in the battle for the...
, an evil witch of great power. The great smith Seppo Ilmarinen
Ilmarinen
Seppo Ilmarinen, the Eternal Hammerer, blacksmith and inventor in the Kalevala, is an archetypal artificer from Finnish mythology. Immortal, he is capable of creating practically anything, but is portrayed as unlucky in love...
forges the Sampo
Sampo
In Finnish mythology, the Sampo or Sammas was a magical artifact of indeterminate type constructed by Ilmarinen that brought good fortune to its holder...
at her request as a payment for the hand of her daughter in marriage. The Sampo is a magic mill of plenty like the Cornucopia
Cornucopia
The cornucopia or horn of plenty is a symbol of abundance and nourishment, commonly a large horn-shaped container overflowing with produce, flowers, nuts, other edibles, or wealth in some form...
, which churns out abundance, but its churning lid has also been interpreted as a symbol of the celestial vault of the heavens, embedded with stars, revolving around a central axis or the pillar of the world. Other Kalevala characters also seek marriage with the daughters of Pohjola. These include the adventurer Lemminkäinen
Lemminkäinen
Lemminkäinen or Lemminki is a prominent figure in Finnish mythology. He is one of the Heroes of the Kalevala, where his character is a composition of several separate heroes of oral poetry. He is usually depicted as young and good looking, with wavy blonde hair.The original, mythological...
and the great wise man Väinämöinen
Väinämöinen
Väinämöinen is the central character in the Finnish folklore and the main character in the national epic Kalevala. His name comes from the Finnish word väinämö, meaning minstrel. Originally a Finnish god, he was described as an old and wise man, and he possessed a potent, magical...
. Louhi demands deeds similar to the forging of Sampo from them, such as shooting the Swan of Tuonela
Swan of Tuonela
250px|thumb|[[Akseli Gallen-Kallela]]'s image Lemminkäisen äiti , with the Swan of TuonelaThe Swan of Tuonela is an 1895 tone poem by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. It is the third part of Op...
. When the proposer finally gets the daughter, weddings and great drinking and eating parties are held at the great hall of Pohjola.
The foundation of the world pillar, also thought of as the root of the "world tree", was probably located, from the Finnish mythological perspective, somewhere just over the northern horizon, in Pohjola. The pillar was thought to rest on the Pohjantähti or North Star (also known as the pole star in English). The forging and hoarding of the Sampo and its abundance by the witch Louhi inside a great mountain in the dark reaches of Pohjola; the struggle and war by the people of the south to free the Sampo and capture it for their own needs and the subsequent shattering of the Sampo and the loss of its all-important lid (which implies the breaking of the world tree at the north pole) together constitute the bulk of the Kalevala material.
The Finnish metal band "Sentenced
Sentenced
Sentenced was a Finnish heavy metal band that played melodic death metal in their early years. The band formed in 1989, in the town of Muhos, Finland, and broke up in 2005.-Early years :...
" used the frozen land of "Pohjola" as inspiration for the albums "Journey to Pohjola" and the Finnish death metal pillar album "North from Here
North from Here
North from Here is the second album by the Finnish heavy metal band Sentenced. Lyrics of the album deal with Sentenced's typical melancholy, but some also deal with the mythology and history of Finnish warfare and the national romantic epic of Kalevala...
" released in 1992 and 1993.
Other uses
In modern Finnish usage, Pohjola or Pohjoismaat is FinnishFinnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
for the Nordic countries
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
, the equivalent of which in Scandinavian languages is Norden
Norden
- Geography :* the Scandinavian name for the Nordic countries.* Norden, Lower Saxony: a town in Lower Saxony, Germany.* Norden Township, Minnesota: a township in Minnesota, United States.* Norden, Greater Manchester: a village near Rochdale, England....
http://www.pohjola-norden.fi.
See also
- Pohjola, an insuranceInsuranceIn law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
company - Pohjolan LiikennePohjolan LiikenneOy Pohjolan Liikenne Ab is the road services division of the state-owned VR Group. It is a major bus and road haulage operator in Finland.-Freight:The company has three freight companies / business divisions:...
, a bus company - Pohjola's DaughterPohjola's DaughterThe tone poem Pohjola's Daughter, Op. 49, was composed by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius in 1906. Originally, Sibelius intended to title the work Väinämöinen, after the character in the Kalevala . The publisher Robert Lienau insisted on the title Pohjola's Daughter, which Sibelius then...
, the subject of a symphonic tone poem by Jean SibeliusJean SibeliusJean Sibelius was a Finnish composer of the later Romantic period whose music played an important role in the formation of the Finnish national identity. His mastery of the orchestra has been described as "prodigious."... - Mika PohjolaMika PohjolaMika Pohjola is a Finnish-born jazz pianist and composer, who resides in New York City. He is one of the most prolific Scandinavian jazz musicians in his generation.-Childhood in Helsinki, Finland 1971-87:...
, Jazz pianist and composer