View source for Ahti

{{short description|Water deity of Finnish Folk poetry}}
{{other uses}}
{{redirect|Ahto|the fictional city in the Star Wars universe|Manaan}}
{{Infobox deity
| type         = Finnish
| name         = Ahti
| image        = File:Muukka, Ahdin valtakunnassa.jpg
| caption      = ''In the Kingdom of Ahti'' (1934) by [[Elias Muukka]]
| deity_of     = King of the Sea<br>King of Water
| abode        = Water
| other_names  = Ahto, Ahvo
| gender       = Male
| ethnic_group = [[Finns]], [[Karelians]]
| spouse = [[Vellamo]]
| offspring = Vellamo's maiden
}}
'''Ahti''' is a water god in [[Finnish mythology]].

In the ''[[Kalevala]]'', he is referred to with the name ''Ahto'' in order to not confuse him with the separate character ''[[Lemminkäinen#Ahti Saarelainen|Ahti Saarelainen]]''.

==Name==
In the 18th century, the name Ahti was connected to Greek: Nils Idman connected the name to the epithet {{lang|el|Áktios}} 'coastal', which is given to [[Pan (god)|Pan]] by [[Theocritus]] and to [[Apollo]] by [[Apollonius of Rhodes]]. [[Christfried Ganander]] connected the name to [[Actaeon]] in his 1789 book ''[[Mythologia Fennica]]''.<ref name="haavio">{{cite book |last=Haavio |first=Martti |date=1967 |title=Suomalainen mytologia |url= |location=Helsinki |publisher=WSOY (original), Finnish Literature Society |pages=88–96 |isbn=978-951-858-026-6 |access-date=}}</ref>

Initial theory for the origin of the name Ahti was in the [[North Germanic languages|North Germanic]] word ''ahva'' 'water',<ref>{{cite book |last=Krohn |first=Kaarle |date=1914 |title=Suomalaisten runojen uskonto |location=Porvoo |publisher=WSOY and Finnish Literature Society |page=316}}</ref> or in the same family of words (''ægir'', 'sea'). [[Domenico Comparetti]] connected the name to the North Germanic word ''agi, aga'' 'restlessness, sailing'. [[Torsten Evert Karsten]] pointed out how the name Ahti appears for multiple different individuals in [[runic song]]s, and saw it as a shorter form of the Viking name Ahti-hariʀ, which later developed into Óttarr ([[Ohthere]]). [[Kaarle Krohn]] wondered if Ahti is a proper noun at all, or if it simply has the meaning '[[haltija]]'.<ref name="haavio"/> He also tried to prove the name actually means [[Andrew the Apostle|Saint Andrew]].<ref name="siikala"/>

According to a later theory, Ahti's name could come from the verb ''ahtaa'' 'to hang fishnets to dry'. A net drying rack is ''ahde''. Similar words are found across [[Uralic language]]s. This would make Ahti a god who guarantees luck in seining. Mikko K. Heikkilä thought the name came from Sámi *''āhččē'' 'father, master spirit'.<ref>{{cite book|author=Janne Saarikivi|chapter=Huomioita Agricolan psalttarin esipuheen jumalista ja muusta itämerensuomalaisesta mytologisesta sanastosta|editor=Jeremy Bradley|title=Tonavan Laakso: Eine Festschrift für Johanna Laakso|series=Central European Uralic Studies|volume=2|year=2022|publisher=Praesens Verlag|isbn=9783706911597|pages=384–385}}</ref> [[Martti Haavio]] connected the name Ahti to the Ingrian word ''nahti'' 'seal', making Ahti the [[haltija]] of seals, but this etymology is uncertain.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pulkkinen|first1=Risto|last2=Lindfors|first2=Stina|title=Suomalaisen kansanuskon sanakirja|date=2016|isbn=978-952-495-405-1|publisher=Gaudeamus|page=8}}</ref>

==Description==
Ahti was first mentioned in writing in 1551 by [[Mikael Agricola]] as the one who gave fish from water (''Achti wedhest caloia toi''). Ganander called Ahti a sea haltija who gave fish and who shipwrecked fishermen called for help.<ref name="siikala"/> In this function, as a giver of fish, he only appears in runic songs from [[Kainuu]], addressed as {{lang|fi|Meren kultanen kuninkas, / Meren Ahti armollinen}} 'Golden King of the Sea, merciful Ahti of the Sea' and asked to give [[European perch|perches]]. [[Vellamo]] is also mentioned as the Mistress of Water and the ruler of Ahti's trench. The only other mention of Ahti (Ahto in this song) as a giver of fish is from a song written down by [[Zacharias Topelius the Elder]] from possibly [[North Ostrobothnia]], but the authenticity of this song has been questioned. Haavio suggested this song could've been created by Anders Aspegren (1678–1751), but pointed out that the form Ahto was not invented by any one person but also exists among folk tradition. Based on Aspegren, [[Daniel Juslenius]] called Ahti "[[Neptune (mythology)|Neptune]], sea god, [[Nixie (folklore)|Nixie]]". [[Gustaf Renvall]] saw Ahti as female.<ref name="haavio"/>

The name Ahti does also appear in other contexts in runic songs. He is said to have "given" something earlier and is asked to come as money is being shared. Ganander called Ahti the "God of Wealth". These verses are connected to hunting songs, where the "Golden King of the Forest, merciful Ahti of the Forest" is asked to give prey. Ahti also appears in healing spells in various forms: Ahti of the Sea, Water, Forest, Land, and Wind. [[White Karelia]]n healing spells describe, for example, if an illness came from the forest and you used water to heal it, you prayed to Ahti of the Forest and Ahti of Water. Ahti of Water's sacred healing water had to be "bought" with gold and silver.<ref name="haavio"/>

In [[Ingria]], the name Ahti appears in {{lang|fi|hylje}} spells. {{lang|fi|Hylje}} means a seal, as well as various skin inflammations which were healed with seal fat. The runic songs speak of "pile of fat, merciful Ahti of Water", leading Haavio to assume Ahti was originally Nahti, the divine ancestor of seals.<ref name="haavio"/> [[Anna-Leena Siikala]] thought the runic songs did not prove this theory of Ahti as a seal haltija, as the Kainuu songs point towards seine fishing, though as the ruler over water he was in control of seals as well.<ref name="siikala">{{cite book |last=Siikala |first=Anna-Leena |date=2012 |title=Itämerensuomalaisten mytologia |url= |location=Helsinki |publisher=Finnish Literature Society |pages=373–375 |isbn=978-952-222-393-7 |access-date=}}</ref>

The Kainuu line went {{lang|fi|Anna Ahti ahvenia}} 'Ahti, give us perches'. The more widespread version goes {{lang|fi|Anna Antti ahvenia, Pekka pieniä kaloja}} '[[Andrew the Apostle|Andrew]] give us perches, [[Saint Peter|Peter]] (give us) small fish'. Siikala considered the line with Ahti to be more archaic, and the one with Christian saints to be a later-born catchphrase.<ref name="siikala"/>
[[File:Albert Edelfelt - Aino - A III 2022-40 - Finnish National Gallery.jpg|Aino and water maidens which were inspired by the Watery maiden of Vellamo, Ahti's only child. "Aino" by [[Albert Edelfelt]] (1935).|thumb|right]]
A [[Karelia]]n runic song describes a hero, such as [[Väinämöinen]], catching a fish he tries to cut and eat. The fish jumps away, revealing herself to be a "watery maiden of Vellamo" and "Ahti's only child", mocking the hero for not noticing this. A similar song exists from [[Estonia]], but in the Estonian version the fish is caught by seining and only begs to be spared when already taken indoors.<ref name="harva">{{cite book|last=Harva|first=Uno|date=1948|title=Suomalaisten muinaisusko|location=Helsinki|publisher=WSOY|page=365 }}</ref> The Karelian song was one of the multiple ones [[Elias Lönnrot]] used to create the character of [[Aino (character)|Aino]] in the ''Kalevala''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hämäläinen |first=Niina |title= Aino-runo ja sen taustat · Kalevalan Aino |url=http://aino.finlit.fi/omeka/ohjeet/taustaa |publisher=Finnish Literature Society |date=2017 |access-date=2025-08-06 }}</ref>

==Epithets==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%;"
!Epithet
!class="unsortable"|Epithet meaning
!Regions
|-
|Meren kultainen kuningas<ref name="meren">{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1840 |title=SKVR XII2 6708. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-069389 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Finnish Literature Society |access-date=2025-08-05}}</ref><br>Veen kultainen kuningas<ref name="vein">{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1889 |title=SKVR I4 545. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-002932 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Finnish Literature Society |access-date=2025-08-05}}</ref>
|'Golden King of the Sea'<br>'Golden King of Water'
|[[Kainuu]], [[Ladoga Karelia]], [[North Ostrobothnia]], [[Olonets Karelia]], [[White Karelia]]
|-
|Meren Ahti armollinen<ref name="meren"/><br>Veen Ahti armollinen<ref name="vein"/><br>Vien Ahvo armohiinen<ref name="hyle"/>
|'Merciful Ahti of the Sea'<br>'Merciful Ahti of Water'
|[[Ingria]], [[Kainuu]], [[North Ostrobothnia]], [[South Karelia]], [[White Karelia]]
|-
|Meren Ahti vaahtivaippa<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1828 |title=SKVR XV 661. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-088565 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Finnish Literature Society |access-date=2025-08-06}}</ref><br>Vein Ahti vaahtipaita<ref name="ruoko">{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1888 |title=SKVR I4 1309. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-003757 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Finnish Literature Society |access-date=2025-08-06}}</ref>
|'Ahti of the Sea in a cloak of foam'<br>'Ahti of the Sea in a shirt of foam'
|[[North Karelia]], [[White Karelia]]
|-
|Meren ukko, ruokorinta<ref name="ruoko"/><br>Vein ukko, ruohoparta<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1880 |title=SKVR XII1 3721. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-066340 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Finnish Literature Society |access-date=2025-08-06}}</ref>
|'Old man of the sea, breast of reed'<br>'Old man of water, beard of grass'
|[[North Ostrobothnia]], [[White Karelia]]
|-
|Veen Ahti auollinen<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1839 |title=SKVR I4 1058. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-003486 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Finnish Literature Society |access-date=2025-08-06}}</ref>
|'Blissful Ahti of Water'
|[[White Karelia]]
|-
|Hylehytty, rasvamytty<ref name="hyle">{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1907 |title=SKVR IV3 4400. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-016069 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Finnish Literature Society |access-date=2025-08-06}}</ref>
|'Seal hytty, pile of fat'<br><small>*{{lang|fi|Hytty}} has meant structures in which tar was burned or bog iron was processed</small>
|[[Ingria]]
|-
|Vien kaunone kananen<ref name="hyle"/>
|'Beautiful chicken of water'
|[[Ingria]]
|-
|Vein Ahti, aimo poika<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1888 |title=SKVR I4 2. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-002342 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Finnish Literature Society |access-date=2025-08-06}}</ref>
|'Ahti of Water, proper lad'
|[[Olonets Karelia]]
|-
|Ahti aaltoen isäntä<ref name="aaltoen">{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1888 |title=SKVR I4 612. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-003008 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Finnish Literature Society |access-date=2025-08-06}}</ref>
|'Ahti, master of waves'
|[[White Karelia]]
|-
|Satahauvan hallitsija<ref name="aaltoen"/>
|'Ruler of a hundred trenches'
|[[White Karelia]]
|}

==In the ''Kalevala''==
Ahti is the name of the king or god of the sea, and ''Ahtola'' is his sea-castle.{{sfn|Lönnrot|Crawford|1888|loc=Glossary}} His wife is [[Vellamo]], and they live together at the bottom of the sea. The [[Sampo]] comes into his possession and he is unwilling to return it.{{sfn|Lönnrot|Crawford|1888|loc=Preface}}

In the ''[[Kalevala]]'', Ahto appears in Rune XLI; in Rune XLII, where [[Väinämöinen]] charms him with his magic harp playing; in Rune XLIII, where the [[Sampo]] is lost in the sea; and in Rune XLVIII, where he is briefly mentioned.

In a fable similar to [[Mercury and the Woodman]], Ahto dives to return the lost knife of a shepherd, out of pity. He first finds a gold knife, and then a silver knife, but the shepherd does not claim them as his. The third knife Ahto retrieves is the correct one; as a reward for his honesty, Ahto gives the shepherd all three.{{sfn|Lönnrot|Crawford|1888|loc=Preface}}

==Ahti Saarelainen==
{{Further|Lemminkäinen#Ahti Saarelainen}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin}}

*{{citation| title  =Kalevala: the Epic Poem of Finland | editor-first= Elias|editor-last = Lönnrot | editor-link =Elias Lönnrot | editor-first2= John Martin | editor-last2= Crawford | editor-link2 =John Martin Crawford (scholar) | year = 1888| url  =http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5186 }}

{{refend}}

{{Finnish mythology footer}}
{{Kalevala}}

[[Category:Finnish gods]]
[[Category:Sea and river gods]]