Antero Vipunen

Antero Vipunen (Wipunen) In the Finnish epic poem The Kalevala (rune 17), primeval giant who gave charms to the culture hero Vainamoinen. Once, wanting to build a boat, Vainamoinen asked Tapio, the forest god, to supply him with the necessary woods. But all of the trees except the oak refused to offer themselves.

Vainamoinen began to construct the boat but discovered he lacked the necessary magic words to complete the project. After vainly seeking the words among birds and animals, he journeyed to Tuonela, the land of the dead. He was told the magic words were possessed by the giant Antero Vipunen, and Vainamoinen went to seek him.

Awaking Antero Vipunen from his long sleep underground, Vainamoinen opened the giant’s mouth, forcing him to speak, but in the effort he slipped into the giant’s mouth. Not wishing to remain the giant’s guest, Vainomoinen set up a forge, which caused intense pain to Antero Vipunen.

When the culture hero demanded the magic words as payment for stopping the forge, the giant supplied them and let him out. With the magic words Vainamoinen finished the boat, which was self-propelled. It carried him to Pohjola, the Northland, where he wooed the Maiden of Pohjola, who refused his advances.

The name Antero is derived from St. Andreus, or Andrew, and Vipunen signifies the cross of the saint, revealing the Christian influence on the final form of the Finnish epic poem.

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow – Copyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante