THE SAMPO

Described as a mill that would produce salt,flour, and gold, the sampo was a strange object made from many bizarre components. It was finally forged by Ilmarinen after his initial attemps produce a crossbow,a boat, a heifer, and a plough, which he threw back into the fire.
The sampo has two symbolic qualities, it is the bride price of Louhis daughter, and it also represent the wealth of the finnish people.

THE CLAIMING OF SAMPO
Ilmarinen and Louhis daughter did not stay together for long. The maid of the north was killed soon after the marriage because she had illtreated a magician called Kullervo. Ilmarinen wanted to marry Louhis other daughter, but Louhi refused.

So Ilmarinen returned to finland and the people of northland kept the sampo.Vainamoinen and Ilmarinen though it was unfair that Louhi and her people had kept the sampo and the riches it provided. They decided that if they could not find a wife in northland atleast they could ensure properityfor their homeland by stealing the sampo back.

So the two brothers set sail for the north, taking with themLlemminkainen, the adventurer and trickster. Lemminkainen had once gone to Pohjola to woo one of Louhi's daughters and there he had been gevin some task to accomplish.One of this was to kill the Swan of Tuonila in the underworld.Lemminkainen was killed there, but restored to life by his mother. He sough revange againts Louhi.

During their voyage the three heroes caught a fish and Vainamoinen made a kantele, a magikal harp like musical instrument, from its backbone. It had the power to charm its listeners and put them to sleep.

When yhey arrived at the northland, Vainamoinen played a tune on the kantele and lulled Louhi and her followers i to a deep sleep. Then they soon got hold of the sampo and set sail for home.

Vainamoinen and his companions had to fight off an onfuriated Louhi who pursued them in a form of gigantic bird.

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