Kalevala | Antero Vipunen
Antero Vipunen is an ancient giant, a great shaman who now lies underground, more or less dead, with trees growing above him. In Poem 17, Vainamoinen visits the sleeping giant to obtain his knowledge. Vipunen revives enough to swallow Vainamoinen, in a scene reminiscent of the biblical story of Jonah and the whale. Vainamoinen hammers on Vipunen's innards until the giant finally reveals all his spells and releases him. Vipunen is a puzzling character: it is never clear, for instance, whether he is alive or dead, and whether his body is decomposed or intact. All we know is that he is a...
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