The Kalevala

Compiled by the philologist Elias Lönnrot in the nineteenth century, ‘The Kalevala’ is a compilation of epic poetry from Finnish, Karelian and Ingrian folklore and mythology. It narrates the story of the Creation of the Earth, describing the adventures and voyages between the peoples of the land of Kalevala called Väinölä and the land of Pohjola. Regarded as the national epic of Finland, ‘The Kalevala’ was instrumental in the development of the Finnish national identity and the intensification of Finland’s language strife, ultimately leading to its independence from Russia in 1917. Steeped in mythology and folklore, comprising ballads, lyrical songs, and mystic incantations, the enigmatic epic helped influence the Middle-earth mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien.