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Finland
KullervoKullervo is the tragic anti-hero of the Finnish Mythology. Kullervo in Finnish is called Pearl of Combat, which probably means that he shines in combat. His birth is made of strife when two tribes of Untamo are jealous of his brother Kalervo and this jealousy will eventually erupt into open warfare. He kills all of Kalervo's tribe except for his sister who admits defeat. She later gives a virgin birth to Kullervo. While he was three months old, Untamo tries three times to have him killed (drowning, fire, and crucifixion). The reason that he has survived was his amazing magical powers. He then gives up and lets him grow up. But, Untamo asked him eventually to become a servant to the household, but his wild nature made him unfit for any domestic task. Lastly giving up, he then sells him to slavery to Ilmarinen. He is raised in isolation because he is a slave, but he had a feirce temper and a growing magical talent. The only memory of his old life is a knife that he had when he was an infant. Ilmarinen's wife enjoyed tormenting him and then she sends him to tend the lifestock with only bread with stones baked in it, and a poem book to appease the gods. The time that he settles down to eat, his knife breaks on one of the stones and in a rage he then turns one of the cows Ilmarinen's wife was milking into a bear and it kills her. He then flees from slavery and finds out that his sister is alive but dissapeared and feared dead. He then goes back to Untamo and asks for things so he sends him out onto the tribe to collect tributes. Along the way he meets a beggar girl and finds out that she is her sister. The girl then runs away and commits suicide. He runs home and tells his family that he will vow revenge on Untamo but his family asked him to stay away from the path of revenge. He does not listen and his family rejects him. He then goes to Ukko and retreives the magical broadsword. He then uses the sword to exterminate Untamo and his tribe. When he arrives home he finds that his family is dead. His mother as a spirit tells him to go to the woods. This does not help as he sees the body of his sister. His last wish was to be sacraficed and his sword happily gave him his wish. He then throws himself onto the sword. Text & Drawing: John T., Santan
JHS Citation: "Kullervo." Wikipedia . 24 Jan. 2007. 6 Feb. 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kullervo>.
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