Louhi
| Louhi | |
|---|---|
Mistress of Pohjola Maiden of Pohjola | |
Mistress of Pohjola, Eemil Halonen (1940) | |
| Other names | Forest Finns: Loho, Luukka Kainuu: Louki, Syvätär Karelia: Lavekämmen, Laviatar, Lavokämmen, Lohetar, Lohettari, Lohiatar, Lohjatar, Lohja-tartta, Lokahatar, Louhetar, Louhutar, Loveatar, Lovehetar, Lovetar, Loviatar, Loviitar, Lovin eukko, Loviotar, Lovviitar, Luovatar, Syvätär Ostrobothnia: Laviatar, Louhiatar, Lovehetar Savonia: Lakeitar, Launavatar, Louhiatar, Louhietar, Loveatar, Loviatar, Ähyttär, Ähötäri, Äijötär |
| Abode | Pohjola |
| Animals | Wolf |
| Gender | Female |
| Ethnic group | Finns, Karelians |
| Offspring | Nine diseases, wolves |
| Equivalents | |
| Sámi | Jábmiidáhkká |
Louhi (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈlou̯hi]; alternate names include Loviatar (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈloʋiɑtɑr]), Loveatar, Lovetar, Lovehetar, Louhetar and Louhiatar) is the ruler of Pohjola in Finnish mythology. She is regarded as a goddess of death and disease. She is also the mother of wolves. Her original role was likely as the ruler of the underworld.
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.