Stories from the Finnish Epic: The Kalevala
as told at the Seattle Storytellers Guild Epic Event
at the Nordic Heritage Museum on March 25th, 2017.

Chapter 5 – The Forging Of The Sampo as told by Philomena Jordan.
(Click to listen: 16 Minutes)

Philomena Jordan loves to share the Stories, Songs and Poetry of her native Ireland
with audiences of all ages. She also has enjoyed her Epic Story adventures to other lands.
The Kalevala is one of her favorites.

(Runo X and part of XVI)

Väinämöinen returns home and goes to the forge of Ilmarinen, he tells the smith of his ordeal and asks him to go to Pohjola to marry the maiden in exchange for the forging of the Sampo. Ilmarinen says he will never go to the Northland. Väinämöinen tells Ilmarinen that there are many wonders he must see, he tells him of a giant fir tree in the Osmo fields with the Great Bear living in its branches, which Väinämöinen himself conjured up on his way home.

Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen both go together to see the giant tree, Ilmarinen climbs the tree and Väinämöinen sings up a giant storm which carries Ilmarinen off to Pohjola.

Ilmarinen meets Louhi, she asks him if he will forge the Sampo, she brings her daughter dressed in finest garments and jewels and offers her in exchange for the forging of the Sampo. Ilmarinen accepts and begins work on creating his forge.

After the forge is created and the work begins, Ilmarinen works ceaselessly for four days and nights but nothing comes of his efforts but beautiful trinkets. He calls the wind to blow, to work his bellows, a wind blows from all direction, it blew for three days and at the end of the third day Ilmarinen checks his furnace and sees the wonderful Sampo forming, he works it with his hammer and anvil and finally completes the Sampo.

The Sampo grinds all day, it grinds vats of grain, salt and gold one each for eating, for storing and for trading. Louhi grows delighted and takes the Sampo to the mountain of copper and locks it away behind nine heavy locks.

Ilmarinen's task now completed, he goes to the daughter of Louhi and asks her to come with him. She tells him she cannot leave home yet. Ilmarinen becomes downhearted. He is comforted by Louhi who prepares him food and drink then sends him home.

Stories from the Finnish Epic: The Kalevala as told at the Seattle Storytellers Guild Epic Event at the Nordic Heritage Museum on March 25th, 2017.

Stories from the Finnish Epic: The Kalevala
as told at the Seattle Storytellers Guild Epic Event
at the Nordic Heritage Museum on March 25th, 2017.