View source for Louhi

{{Short description|Finnish goddesses of death and disease}}
{{for|the deity in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game|Loviatar (Forgotten Realms)}}
{{Infobox deity
| type         = Finnish
| name         = Louhi
| deity_of     = Mistress of Pohjola<br />Maiden of Pohjola
| image        = File:Eemil Halonen Pohjolan emäntä 1940.jpg
| alt          = <!-- for alternate text of the title image per [[WP:ALT]] -->
| caption      = ''Mistress of Pohjola'', [[Eemil Halonen]] (1940)
| abode        = [[Pohjola]]
| other_names  = [[Forest Finns]]: Loho, Luukka<ref name="loho">Siikala (1992:200–203).</ref><br />[[Kainuu]]: Louki, Syvätär<br />[[Karelia]]: Lavekämmen, Laviatar, Lavokämmen, Lohetar, Lohettari, Lohiatar, Lohjatar, Lohja-tartta, Lokahatar, Louhetar, Louhutar, Loveatar, Lovehetar, Lovetar, Loviatar, Loviitar, Lovin eukko, Loviotar, Lovviitar, Luovatar, Penitar, Peniätär, Syvätär, Äkäätär<br />[[Ostrobothnia (historical province)|Ostrobothnia]]: Laviatar, Louhiatar, Lovehetar<br />[[Savonia (historical province)|Savonia]]: Lakeitar, Launavatar, Louhiatar, Louhietar, Loveatar, Loviatar, Ähyttär, Ähötäri, Äijötär
| animals      = Wolf
| offspring    = [[Nine diseases]], wolves
| gender       = Female
| ethnic_group = [[Finns]], [[Karelians]]
| equivalent1_type = Sámi
| equivalent1 = [[Jábmiidáhkká]]
}}
'''Louhi''' ({{IPA|fi|ˈlou̯hi}}; alternate names include '''Loviatar''' ({{IPA|fi|ˈloʋiɑtɑr}}), '''Loveatar''', '''Lovetar''', '''Lovehetar''', '''Louhetar''' and '''Louhiatar''') is the ruler of [[Pohjola]] in [[Finnish mythology]].<ref name="sii">Frog; Siikala; Stepanova (2012:179).</ref> She is regarded as a goddess of death and disease.<ref>Wilfred Bonser, "The Mythology of the Kalevala, with Notes on Bear-Worship among the Finns" (1928), pp. 344-358.</ref> She is also the mother of wolves.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ganander |first=Christfrid |date=1789 |title=SKVR XII2 5410. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-068058 |location=skvr.fi |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |page= |isbn= |access-date=2025-03-26}}</ref> Her original role was likely as the ruler of the underworld.<ref>Pulkkinen; Lindfors (2016:185).</ref>

In ''[[Kalevala]]'', [[Elias Lönnrot]] split Louhi into two different characters, Louhi and Loviatar, describing Louhi as a wicked queen of Pohjola and Loviatar as a blind daughter of [[Tuoni]]. In Runo 45 of the ''Kalevala'', Loviatar is impregnated by a great wind and gives birth to nine sons, the [[Nine diseases]].<ref name="crawford1">[http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/kveng/kvrune45.htm ''Kalevala'', translated by John Martin Crawford (1888)]</ref>

==Name==
The many variations of her name are connected to the word ''lovi'' ("notch, crack"). In [[Finnish language|Finnish]], the term ''langeta loveen'' ("to fall into ''lovi''") means "to fall into a [[trance]]".<ref name="sii"/> According to [[Christfried Ganander]], falling into ''lovi'' means a state of ecstasy and a journey to the underworld, which he compared with [[Sámi shamanism]].<ref name="ita">Siikala (2012:290293).</ref> [[Martti Haavio]] connected her name to [[North Germanic languages|North Germanic]] ''flog'' "fly", via ''[[louhikäärme]]'' (dragon), from [[Old Swedish]]: ''floghdraki'' ("fly-dragon"), identifying her as a flying being.<ref name="syo"/> In the Finnish dialects of the [[Karelian Isthmus]], ''louhi'' meant "lightning", which could connect the word to the concepts of fire and flames, but it is not certain if this in turn is connected to ''lovi'' in the sense of "trance". [[Kaarle Krohn]] wondered if an agent noun of ''lovi'', ''lovehtija'', could be the origin of the agent noun ''loihtija'' ("spellcaster").<ref>Krohn (1914:40).</ref>

==In runic songs==
She was a maiden (''Pohjolan impi'') who refused to marry any man but, when in water, was impregnated by a sea giant, giving birth to the diseases and ailments of the world.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ganander |first=Christfrid |date=1789 |title=SKVR XII2 8726 |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-071499 |location=skvr.fi |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |page= |isbn= |access-date=2025-03-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Ganander |first=Christfrid |date=1786 |title=SKVR XV 286 |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-088188 |location=skvr.fi |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |page= |isbn= |access-date=2025-03-26}}</ref> After this, she became the Mistress of Pohjola.<ref name="itm"/><ref name="sav">{{cite book |last=Gottlund|first=K. A.|date=1817|title=SKVR VI1 24 |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-022449 |location=skvr.fi |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |page= |isbn= |access-date=2025-03-26}}</ref> In some versions of the poem of the birth of diseases, she is impregnated by wind instead.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ganander |first=Christfrid |date=1786 |title=SKVR XV 310 |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-088212 |location=skvr.fi |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |page= |isbn= |access-date=2025-03-26}}</ref> She then proceeds to name or baptize the children herself, giving them the names of diseases and disasters.<ref name="haavio"/> She also often gives birth to a tenth child, who is a girl. In some songs, the daughter in question is named [[Syöjätär]].<ref name="syo"/>

In one [[Ostrobothnia (historical province)|Ostrobothnian]] version collected by [[Elias Lönnrot]], ''Pohjolan impi'' gives birth to [[Väinämöinen]].<ref name="itm">Siikala (2012:323–325).</ref>

In spells related to burn wounds, ''Pohjolan impi'' is asked to bring cold to the wound.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ganander |first=Christfrid |date=1789 |title=SKVR XII1 4500 |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-067152 |location=skvr.fi |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |page= |isbn= |access-date=2025-03-26}}</ref>

Multiple different takes on her exist in runic songs. In a song from [[South Savo]], she is from Ostrobothnia and marries [[Väinämöinen]], who is from [[Savonia (historical province)|Savonia]] and takes her there. This is why she is called Väinätär.<ref name="itm"/> She has a son, and when he is 15 years old, she sends him to bring her inheritance from Ostrobothnia with the help of a black dog she also gave birth to.<ref name="sav"/> In this version, Lovehetar had a daughter, and this daughter was the one who got impregnated in water.<ref name="itm"/> Giving birth to a black dog is a symbol of ultimate evil, since in European tradition, a black dog is a form of the [[Devil]].<ref name="itm"/>

[[File:Robert Wilhelm Ekman - Louhi saves Väinämöinen.jpg|right|thumb|"Louhi saves Väinämöinen" by [[Robert Wilhelm Ekman]] (1859–1860)]]
In a song from [[Kainuu]], she is not married, but her relation to Väinämöinen is still not adversary: after Väinämöinen was shot and he drifted to Pohjola with the River of Tuoni, Mistress of Pohjola hears his cries and recognizes them to be those of a hero. She helps him by bringing him to her house and giving him food.<ref>{{cite book |last=Krohn |first=Kaarle |date=1882 |title=SKVR XII1 3 |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-062570 |location=skvr.fi |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |page= |isbn= |access-date=2025-03-26}}</ref> In [[White Karelia]]n songs, after hearing his cries, she instead promises to give him a maiden to marry if he forges for her the [[sampo]].

In White Karelian songs, the sampo is akin to a machine which gives riches to Pohjola, so Väinämöinen and allies (who they are differs based on the song) decide to steal it. The heroes bring it to their boat, but Louhi transforms into a ''[[Kokko (mythology)|kokko]]'' bird and begins to chase them. One of the heroes cuts off the bird's toes, which causes the sampo to fall into the waters in three pieces. In a [[Forest Finn]]ish version of the myth, the sampo itself flies out of the boat into the clouds and [[Joukahainen]] jumps after it and strikes it with his sword. He only manages to cut off two toes from the sampo, one which fell into the sea, making it salty, and the other fell on land, making wild hay grow. If only he had been able to cut off more toes, crops would grow on their own without the need of farming.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1817 |title=SKVR VII5 Metsäs. 10 a. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-040716 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Finnish Literature Society |access-date=2025-05-27}}</ref><ref>Haavio (1967:179).</ref> Kaarle Krohn saw this as a description where the sampo and Louhi had fused into one, like sampo itself was a bird. [[Väinö Salminen]] pointed out the Forest Finn belief that storm itself was an evil being, a storm bird from Pohjola, like it was the storm bird which had taken the sampo from Väinämöinen and Joukahainen's boat.<ref>{{cite book|author=Väinö Salminen |chapter=Uno Harva Sammon ryöstö |title =Virittäjä |volume=48 |year=1944 |publisher=Kotikielen Seura |url= https://journal.fi/virittaja/article/view/31402/98124/367687|pages=45–47}}</ref>

===Louhi as a shaman in bird form===
Tradition knows a raven-like bird called ''lievo'' or ''vaaka'' bird, related to Sámi ''vuokko'' bird, a shaman's bird form. More common is the ''kokko'' eagle, who came from Pohjola (''Turjan lintu''), whose description is similar to Karelian descriptions of Louhi turning into a ''vaaka'' bird. The Forest Finn Kaisa Vilhunen told folklorists that ''kokko'' eagle is [[Ukko]]'s helper. It drove away the raven-form Loho, for if she was allowed to stand on a pole on a yard, it was a sign that wolves were coming to devour cattle. This is why Forest Finns had a ''lykkylauta'' shelf as an altar for Ukko worship, as they kept a [[wood grouse]]'s wing on the shelf to drive away Loho and to please Ukko. Loho was the adversary of Ukko and Väinämöinen, and she lived on ''Kalmanmäki'' (Hill of Death) with her servants. ''Kokko'' spews fire and could therefore be related to ideas of the [[Thunderbird (mythology)|thunderbird]].<ref name="loho"/>

==Descriptions==
In 1782, [[Christian Erici Lencqvist]] described "Louhi or Loveatar or Lovehetar" as the mother of disasters, but also someone who can prevent them, so she was asked to help. He also wrote: "it is likely that she is the wife of the north wind". Ganander wrote she is described as an "angry witch" and compared her to [[Pandora]] and [[Proserpina]] without explaining further. [[Matthias Castrén]] wrote that Louhi, with her name and hostility, seems similar to [[Loki]], while [[Eemil Nestor Setälä]] thought Louhi is the same as [[Laufey (mythology)|Laufey]]. While the latter theory received some support, [[Jan de Vries (philologist)|Jan de Vries]] denied it completely in 1953. [[K. B. Wiklund]] claimed Louhi is a [[dragon]], because the Finnish word for dragon is ''lohikäärme'' or ''louhikäärme'' (from Old Swedish ''floghdrake'' "flying dragon"). Before his Laufey theory, Setälä had connected Loviatar to the word ''lovi'' "magical ecstasy", and Krohn wrote her role is that of an old wife of a [[Noaidi|Sámi shaman]] going into a trance.<ref name="haavio">Haavio (1967:391–394).</ref>

Krohn also connected Louhi with [[Herodias]], who is called a "harlot" in Germanic folklore. In [[Italy]], it was said that she had 12 children. She is sometimes called the bride of wind and was connected to [[Diana (mythology)|Diana]] during the [[Middle Ages]]. [[Uno Harva]] told Krohn in 1910 of a "widespread legend in [[Russia]]" of the 12 daughters of Herod and Herodias who turned into diseases. Martti Haavio wrote that Louhi's epithet "harlot" came from Herodias who, according to legend, was a wife of Phillip and had an adulterous relationship with king Herod. Herodias also had a connection to [[John the Baptist]], and Christianized versions of the song of the birth of Nine diseases often feature him and mention a deeply corrupted name such as ''Nikotiera mieron huora'' ("Nikotiera whore of the world"), which Krohn and Haavio have connected to Herodias.<ref name="haavio"/> Haavio further connected Louhi to an international tradition of flying, sea and darkness related mothers of demons, such as [[Lilith]], [[Tiamat]] and [[Nyx]].<ref name="syo">Haavio (1967:396–402).</ref> Thus, it is also on par for Louhi to be the ruler of the underworld: the same goes for many other mothers of demons, such as the [[Manichaean]] [[Az (demon)|Az]].<ref>Haavio (1967:408).</ref>

[[Anna-Leena Siikala]] pointed out Louhi's role as a female ruler of the underworld and "daughter of [[Tuonela|Tuoni]]", comparing her to [[Hel (mythological being)|Hel]]. Louhi is also described to be in possession of great riches. The idea of a powerful and rich witch woman living in the far north and possessing the ability to transform into a bird is a part of an early, shared Nordic tradition. For instance, Norwegian folklore knows of the far northern land Trollebotn and its female witch. Louhi's role as the ruler of her house and commander of her forces portray an early Baltic Finnic understanding of societal order.<ref name="ita"/>

Siikala called Louhi "a neighbour of death, the personification of cold and a sender of frost, the birther of demons and beasts and the first ''noita''" ("shaman, witch"), fitting the image of extreme evil.<ref name="ita"/> As Loveatar is the one who gave birth to wolves, Siikala also drew comparisons to Loki. In Savonian tradition, Louhi's wealth is not limited to coins, but extends to game and anything the forest can offer as well.<ref name="itm"/>

According to [[Risto Pulkkinen]], a female ruler of the underworld likely wasn't the original concept in [[Proto-Uralic religion]] but this development happened in order to portray how everything was the opposite in the underworld (men rule in the realm of the living, women in the realm of the dead). The same goes for the Sámi female ruler of the underworld, [[Jábmiidáhkká]].<ref name="seu">{{cite book |last=Pulkkinen |first=Risto |pages=234–235 |date=2011 |chapter=Saamelaisten etninen uskonto |title=Saamelaistutkimus tänään |publisher=Finnish Literature Society |location=Helsinki |isbn=978-952-222-836-9 |url=https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/id/bf367053-47ab-4f0a-bd32-db4c0c01ddd2/641499.pdf }}</ref>

==Epithets==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%; width: 100%"
!Epithet
!class="unsortable"|Epithet meaning
!Regions
|-
|Portto Pohjolan emäntä<ref name="äkäjä"/><br />Portto Pohjulan emäntä<ref name="pohjulan"/><br />Kartta Pohjolan emäntä<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1927 |title=SKVR VI2 4024. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-026489 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Harlot Mistress of Pohjola'
|[[Central Finland]], [[Kainuu]], [[Ladoga Karelia]], [[North Karelia]], [[North Savo]], [[Ostrobothnia (historical province)|Ostrobothnia]], [[South Karelia]], [[South Savo]], [[White Karelia]]
|-
|Louhi Pohjolan emäntä<ref name="harva">{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1923 |title=SKVR XII2 5422. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-068070 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref><br />Louki Pohjolan emäntä<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1820 |title=SKVR XII2 6479. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-069139 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Louhi, Mistress of Pohjola'
|[[Kainuu]], [[North Karelia]], [[Ostrobothnia (historical province)|Ostrobothnia]], [[South Savo]], [[White Karelia]]
|-
|Paha akka raivokerta<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1882 |title=SKVR XII2 7236. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-069942 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref><br />Haon akka raivokerta<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1836 |title=SKVR XII2 6924. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-069611 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref><br />Akka vanha raivokerta<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1885 |title=SKVR VII3 loitsut 429. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-035824 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Evil woman, rage layer'<br />'Woman of the notch, rage layer'<br />'Old woman, rage layer'
|[[Kainuu]], [[North Karelia]], [[North Savo]]
|-
|Pohjon akka raivopyörä<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1872 |title=SKVR I1 erill. <nowiki>[</nowiki>Laivaretki ja kantele<nowiki>]</nowiki> 11. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-005289 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Woman of north, rage wheel'
|[[White Karelia]]
|-
|Akka vanha villikerta<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1858 |title=SKVR VI2 4518. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-026983 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Old woman wild layer'
|[[North Savo]]
|-
|Pohjan akka harvahammas<ref name="harva"/>
|'Gap-tooth (old) woman of north'
|[[Kainuu]], [[Ladoga Karelia]], [[North Ostrobothnia]], [[Olonets Karelia]], [[South Savo]], [[White Karelia]]
|-
|Porotyttö, Pohjan akka<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1846 |title=SKVR VII1 437. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-030948 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref><br />Porotyttö, Pohjan neito<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1908 |title=SKVR IX4 1033. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-053196 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref><br />Porotyttö, Pohjan eukko<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1846 |title=SKVR VII3 loitsut 732. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-036148 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Ash girl, woman of North'<br />'Ash girl, maiden of North'
|[[Central Finland]], [[Kainuu]], [[Ladoga Karelia]], [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]], [[North Karelia]], [[North Ostrobothnia]], [[Olonets Karelia]], [[South Karelia]], [[South Savo]]
|-
|Tulen tyttö, Pohjan neito<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1888 |title=SKVR I4 879. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-003298 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref><br />Tulen tuttu, Pohjan neito<ref name="hiien">{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1885 |title=SKVR IX4 1049. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-053212 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Girl of fire, maiden of North'<br />'Familiar to fire, maiden of North'
|[[Central Finland]], [[White Karelia]]
|-
|Pohjan tyttö, Pohjan neito<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1884 |title=SKVR IX4 1028. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-053191 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref><br />Lapin tyttö, Pohjan neito<ref name="pohjulan">{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1886 |title=SKVR IX4 1031. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-053194 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Girl of North, maiden of North'<br />'Girl of Lapland, maiden of North'
|[[Central Finland]]
|-
|Poro Hiisi Pohjan neito<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1892 |title=SKVR IX4 145. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-052291 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Ash Hiisi maiden of North'
|[[Central Finland]]
|-
|Kipu tyttö, Pohjan neiti<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1885 |title=SKVR VII3 loitsut 1413. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-053204 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Pain girl, miss of North'
|[[North Karelia]]
|-
|Pohjan neiti, kylmä tyttö<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1892 |title=SKVR XII1 4619. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-067272 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Miss of North, cold girl'
|[[Kainuu]]
|-
|Musta tytti, Pohjan neiti<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1832 |title=SKVR XII1 4619. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-067272 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Black girl, miss of North'
|[[Kainuu]]
|-
|Lapin ämmä, Pohjolan emäntä<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1885 |title=SKVR XII2 8001. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-070765 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Old mother of Lapland, Mistress of Pohjola'
|[[Central Finland]]
|-
|Hiien entinen emäntä<ref name="hiien"/>
|'Former mistress of hiisi'
|[[Central Finland]]
|-
|Tulen entinen emäntä<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1890 |title=SKVR IX4 1050. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-053213 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Former mistress of fire'
|[[Central Finland]]
|-
|Pohjolan pitkä akka<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1882 |title=SKVR XII1 3. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-062570 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Tall woman of Pohjola'
|[[Kainuu]]
|-
|Läpi lauto, lännen vaimo<ref name="äkäjä"/>
|'Thoroughly a whore, woman of west'
|[[South Savo]]
|-
|Louhi Pohjolainen<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1837 |title=SKVR XIII3 8971. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-080552 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Louhi of Pohjola'
|[[South Karelia]]
|-
|Porolainen Pohjan neito<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1884 |title=SKVR XII1 4517. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-067170 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'North maiden of ash'
|[[North Ostrobothnia]]
|-
|Lokahatar, vaimo vankka<ref name="loka">{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1845 |title=SKVR VII4 loitsut 2892. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-038341 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Lokahatar, sturdy woman'
|[[Ladoga Karelia]], [[Olonets Karelia]], [[North Karelia]]
|-
|Loveätar, vaimo vanha<ref name="loveä">{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1819 |title=SKVR VI2 4025. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-026490 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref><br />Loveatar, vanha vaimo<ref name="loveä"/><br />Launavatar, vaimo vanha<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1818 |title=SKVR VI2 4629. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-027093 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref><br />Syvätär, vaimo vanha<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1847 |title=SKVR VII4 loitsut 2639. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-038088 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Loveatar, old woman'
|[[Ladoga Karelia]], [[North Karelia]], [[North Savo]], [[Ostrobothnia (historical province)|Ostrobothnia]], [[South Savo]]
|-
|Luonnotar, lihava vaimo<ref name="loka"/>
|'Luonnotar, fat woman'
|[[North Karelia]]
|-
|Loveatar, luonnon vaimo<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1845|title=SKVR VII4 loitsut 2751. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-038200 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref><br />Loviatar, luonnon vaimo<ref name="äkäjä"/><br />Loviatar luonnon akka<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1936 |title=SKVR XIII4 13000. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-084593 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Loveatar, woman of nature'
|[[North Karelia]], [[North Savo]], [[Karelian Isthmus]], [[South Savo]]
|-
|Äijötär, äkeä akka<ref name="äkeä">{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1834 |title=SKVR VI2 4525. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-026990 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref><br />Ähyttär, äkäjä vaimo<ref name="äkäjä">{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1817 |title=SKVR VI1 24. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-022449 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Äijötär, irked woman'
|[[North Savo]], [[South Savo]]
|-
|Loveatar lemmon vaimo<ref name="äkeä"/>
|'Loveatar [[lempo]]'s woman'
|[[North Karelia]], [[North Savo]]
|-
|Loviatar, lemmon luoma<ref name="pirtin">{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1885 |title=SKVR VII4 loitsut 2044. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-037493 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Loviatar, created by lempo'
|[[North Karelia]]
|-
|Lohetar, piru pagana<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1909 |title=SKVR II 1018. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-006564 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Lohetar, demon pagan'
|[[Olonets Karelia]]
|-
|Lohiatar, vaimo kaunis<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1888 |title=SKVR VII4 loitsut 2814. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-038263 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Lohiatar, beautiful woman'
|[[Ladoga Karelia]]
|-
|Akka pirtin pohjalainen<ref name="pirtin"/>
|'Woman at the bottom of the cabin'
|[[North Karelia]]
|-
|Piru pirtin pohjimmainen<ref name="piru">{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1885 |title=SKVR VII4 loitsut 2049. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-037498 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Demon, bottom-most of the cabin'
|[[North Karelia]]
|-
|Lapin huora<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1880 |title=SKVR XII1 4546. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-067199 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Whore of Lapland'
|[[Kainuu]]
|-
|Luojan vaimo<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1884 |title=SKVR VII4 loitsut 2031. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-037480 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'God's woman'
|[[Ladoga Karelia]]
|-
|Salaneito, huorivaimo<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=1884 |title=SKVR IX4 536. |url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-052694 |website=skvr.fi |location= |publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura |access-date=2025-05-16}}</ref>
|'Secret maiden, whore woman'
|[[Central Finland]]
|}

==In the ''Kalevala''==
[[File:Sammon puolustus.jpg|thumb|250px|Mistress of the North, Louhi attacking Väinämöinen in the form of a giant eagle with her troops on her back. <small>(''[[The Defense of the Sampo]]'', Akseli Gallen-Kallela, 1896)</small>]]
When [[Elias Lönnrot]] compiled the ''[[Kalevala]]'', he made Loviatar and Louhi two different characters. However, in the runic songs from which he compiled the epic, the names are often used interchangeably, and in some songs Louhi herself is the mother of the nine diseases.<ref name="skvr1">For example, poem 2104 in Part I4 of [http://www.finlit.fi/skvr ''Suomen Kansan Vanhat Runot''] (''SKVR''), the corpus of Finnish folk songs (in Finnish).</ref><ref>Wilfrid Bonser, "The Mythology of the ''Kalevala'', with Notes on Bear-Worship among the Finns" (1928), pp. 344-358.</ref> Other songs give Loviatar the title "Whore Mistress of Pohjola".<ref name="skvr2">For example, poem 2039 in Part VII4 of [http://www.finlit.fi/skvr ''SKVR''].</ref><ref>Wilfrid Bonser, "The Mythology of the Kalevala, with Notes on Bear-Worship among the Finns" (1928), pp. 344-358.</ref>

''Kalevala''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Louhi is described as a powerful and evil [[witch]] queen ruling over the northern realm of Pohjola, 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 magical artifact Sampo.<ref>{{cite web |author=Asplund, Anneli |author2=Mettomäki, Sirkka-Liisa |url=http://www.finlit.fi/kalevala/index.php?m=162&l=2 |title=The Kalevala's Contents |access-date=2008-08-11 |work=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura: Kalevala |publisher=The Finnish Literature Society |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422082838/http://www.finlit.fi/kalevala/index.php?m=162&l=2 |archive-date=2008-04-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She has a number of beautiful daughters, whom [[Ilmarinen]], [[Lemminkäinen]] and other heroes attempt to win the hands in marriage of. In true [[fairy tale]] form, Louhi sets them difficult-to-impossible tasks to perform in order to claim such a prize, which leads to the forging of the Sampo.<ref name="kansallisbiografia">{{cite web |last1=Järvinen |first1=Irma-Riitta |title=Louhi |url=https://kansallisbiografia.fi/kansallisbiografia/henkilo/5434 |website=Kansallisbiografia |access-date=29 July 2020 |date=11 October 2005}}</ref>

Loviatar appears in Rune 45:
{{poemquote|
The blind daughter of Tuoni,
Old and wicked witch, Lowyatar,
Worst of all the Death-land women,
Ugliest of Mana's children,
Source of all the host of evils,
All the ills and plagues of Northland,
Black in heart, and soul, and visage,
Evil genius of Lappala,
Made her couch along the wayside,
On the fields of sin and sorrow;
Turned her back upon the East-wind,
To the source of stormy weather,
To the chilling winds of morning.
|source=Kalevala, Rune XLV, from the translation by [[John Martin Crawford (scholar)|John Martin Crawford]]
}}

There is one difference between Louhi and the various forms of Loviatar in the songs: Loviatar's name occurs only in [[spell (paranormal)|spell]]s where diseases are banished to go back to her, while Louhi's name occurs also in [[Epic poetry|epic]] or narrative songs. She gives [[quests]] to [[hero]]es,<ref name="skvr3">As in poems 1020 in Part I2 and 364 in Part VII1 of [http://www.finlit.fi/skvr ''SKVR''].</ref> and opposes [[Lemminkäinen]] in a spell contest.<ref name = "skvr4">Poem 815 of part I2 of [http://www.finlit.fi/skvr SKVR].</ref> One hypothesis is that Louhi and Loviatar were regional variants of the same [[goddess]], and that the epic songs were composed in an area where Louhi was the primary name. A large portion of the epic songs about the Mistress of Pohjola do not give her any name.<ref name="skvr5">There are about 50 such poems in Part I1 of [http://www.finlit.fi/skvr ''SKVR''].</ref>

==In popular culture==
*Louhi is the main antagonist in the Finnish-Soviet film ''[[Sampo (film)|Sampo]]'', played by [[Anna Orochko]].<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053240/ Sampo (1959) - IMDb]</ref> 
*There is an orchestral work ''Louhi'' by the Finnish composer [[Kalevi Aho]], and the wind orchestral work ''Louhi's Spells / Louhen loitsut'' by Finnish composer [[Tomi Räisänen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://composers.musicfinland.fi/musicfinland/nuotisto.nsf/0/B3FBB4A76585D5F9C2257A620036D711?opendocument|title=Music Finland Sheet Music Catalogue|publisher=Music Finland|access-date=2015-06-03}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tomiraisanen.com/louhen-loitsut|title=Louhen loitsut (2012) |publisher=Edition TROY|access-date=2015-06-03}}</ref> 
*''Louhi'' is track 5 on ''[[Kesto]]'', recorded by [[Pan Sonic]].<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Pan-Sonic-Kesto-234484/master/8486 (2004) - discogs]</ref> 
*Louhi was an inspiration for a foe of [[Conan the Barbarian]]'s in the Marvel comics version of the character (no such foe ever appears in Howard's stories)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/louhihyb.htm |title=Louhi (Hyborian era, Conan foe) |publisher=Marvunapp.com |access-date=2013-10-06}}</ref>
*''[[Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light]]'' features Louhi the Witch of the North as a boss, ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'' features the item Louhi's Mask,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ffxiah.com/item/11474 |title=Louhi's Mask |publisher=FFXIAH.com |access-date=2013-10-06}}</ref> and ''[[Final Fantasy XIV]]'' features Louhi as a powerful ice enemy.
*Louhi is the main antagonist of [[Michael Scott Rohan]]'s fantasy trilogy ''The Winter of the World''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rohan|first=Michael Scott|title=The anvil of ice|date=1989|publisher=Avon Books|location=New York|isbn=978-0-380-70547-4|url=https://archive.org/details/anviloficewinter00mich_0}}</ref> 
*Louhi is one of the names of the witch [[Iggwilv]] in the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' game's [[Greyhawk]] campaign by [[Gary Gygax]]. In his book ''Sea of Death'', Iggwilv is mentioned as being called Louhi on an alternate Earth.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gygax|first=Gary|title=Sea of death|date=1987|publisher=Ace Books|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-441-75676-6|url=https://archive.org/details/seaofdeath00gyga}}</ref> Louhi is also mentioned in the supplement ''[[Deities & Demigods]]'' for the first edition of ''[[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]]'', as character part of the Finnish mythos.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Ward, James M. |author2=Kuntz, Robert J. |display-authors=etal |date=1984 |title=Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, legends & lore |publisher=TSR |isbn=0-935696-22-9|location=Lake Geneva, WI|oclc=14001409}}</ref>
*''Louhi'' is a song and music video by the Finnish folk band ''[[Värttinä]]'' featuring Sari Kaasinen, released in 2021.
*Louhi is a summonable Berserker-class Servant in the mobile game ''[[Fate/Grand Order]]''.

==Gallery==
{{gallery
|mode=packed
|height=170
|File:Mimmi Lähteenoja Louhen roolissa Kansallisteatterin Pohjolan häät vihkiäisnäytöksessä 9.4.1901.jpg|Actress [[Mimmi Lähteenoja]] as Louhi in the [[Finnish National Theatre|National Theatre]] play ''Pohjolan häät'' (The Wedding at Pohjola) on the day the theatre opened, April 9, 1902
|File:Johan Kortman - Ilmarinen Arrives as the Groom at Pohjola.jpg|''Ilmarinen Arrives as the Groom at Pohjola'', charcoal work by {{ill|Johan Kortman|fi}}, 1893
|File:Johan Kortman - The Wedding at Pohjola.jpg|''The Wedding at Pohjola'', Johan Kortman, 1890
|File:Joseph Alanen - Arrival of Väinämöinen, Ilmarinen and Lemminkäinen at Pohjola.jpg|''Arrival of Väinämöinen, Ilmarinen and Lemminkäinen at Pohjola'', [[tempera]] by {{ill|Joseph Alanen|fi}}
|File:Joseph Alanen - The Defence of the Sampo.jpg|''The Defence of the Sampo'', Joseph Alanen, 1910–1912
|File:Joseph Alanen - Kalevala rya.jpg|[[Rya (rug)|Rya]] of Louhi stealing the sun and the moon, Joseph Alanen, c. 1909
|File:Joseph Alanen - Let the Sun from Bedrock.jpg|''Let the Sun from Bedrock'' by Joseph Alanen
}}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*Frog; Siikala, Anna-Leena; Stepanova, Eila (2012). ''Mythic Discourses – Studies in Uralic Traditions''. Helsinki: Finnish Literature Society. {{ISBN|978-952-222-763-8}}.
*Haavio, Martti (1967). ''Suomalainen mytologia''. Helsinki: WSOY (original), Finnish Literature Society. {{ISBN|978-951-858-026-6}}.
*Pulkkinen, Risto; Lindfors, Stina (2016). ''Suomalaisen kansanuskon sanakirja''. Gaudeamus. {{ISBN|978-952-495-405-1}}.
*Siikala, Anna-Leena (1992). ''Suomalainen šamanismi''. Helsinki: Finnish Literature Society. {{ISBN|978-951-858-169-0}}.
*Siikala, Anna-Leena (2012). ''Itämerensuomalaisten mytologia''. Helsinki: Finnish Literature Society. {{ISBN|978-952-222-393-7}}.

{{Kalevala}}

[[Category:Characters in the Kalevala]]
[[Category:Death goddesses]]
[[Category:Evil goddesses]]
[[Category:Finnish goddesses]]