Defence of the Sampo, by Akseli Gallen-Kallela
Today (as has been pointed out) is Kalevala day - the day of Finnish Culture. The 'New' Kalevala is 160 years old this year (the original version will be 175 next year), and this epic poem compiled by Elias Lönnrot of Finnish and Karelian folklore creates a mythic past inextricably linked with the rise of Finnish identity and culture; and for inspiration for Tolkien's lord of the Rings.
Although pretty archaic, impenetrable, and rarely read by the average modern Finn (check here for a sample), elements from it do crop up in modern day life. Sampo - the magic mill - becomes a bank; Otava - the constellation Ursa Major - becomes a publishing company; while several of the character names are still in use today. Even closer to home, in today's Hesari was an article about the latest comic book version of the Kalevala - whose gods, heroes and spirits were recreated out of the last construction recession, when drawn by unemployed architect Gene Kurkijärvi, and finally published this year.
If only my cartoon drawing skills were as good.
No comments:
Post a Comment