Estonian Gods
Estonian mythology is a complex of myths belonging the
Estonian folk heritage and literary mythology. Some traces of the oldest
authentic myths may have survived in runic songs. There is a song about the
birth of the world – a bird lays three eggs and starts to lay out the nestlings
– one becomes Sun, one becomes Moon and one becomes the Earth. Other Finno-Ugric
peoples have also myths according to which the world has emerged from an egg.
The world of the Estonians’ ancestors is believed to have turned around a pillar
or a tree,[5] to which the skies were nailed with North Star. Milky Way (Linnutee
or Birds' Way in Estonian) was a branch of the World Tree (Ilmapuu) or the way
by which birds moved (and took the souls of the deceased to the other world).
These myths were based on animistic beliefs.
Changes occurred in proto-Estonian mythology as a result of the contacts with
Baltic and Germanic tribes, as well as the transition from hunting and gathering
to farming. Personifications of celestial bodies, sky and weather deities and
fertility gods gained importance in the world of the farmers. There may have
been a sky and thunder god called Uku or Ukko, also called Vanaisa (Grandfather)
or Taevataat (Sky Father). Proto Estonian pre-Christian deities may also have
included a sky-god by name Jumal, known also by other Finnic peoples as Jumala
in Finnish and Jumo in Mari.[1][6] Many recorded legends and myths depicting a
supreme sky god are however probably of later origin and feature Christian
and/or foreign influences.
Estonian legends about giants (Kalevipoeg, Suur Tõll, Leiger) may be a
reflection of Germanic (especially Scandinavian) influences. There are numerous
legends interpreting various natural objects and features as traces of
Kalevipoeg's deeds. The giant has merged together with Christian Devil, giving
birth to a new character – Vanapagan (a giant demon living on his farm or manor
and his farm hand Kaval-Ants (Crafty Hans).
Some Estonian Gods;
Äiatar – a female demon
Äike - thunder god
Ebajalg - demonic whirlwind
Ehaema - Mother Twilight, a nocturnal spirit or elf, encouraging spinning
Eksitaja - an evil spirit who makes people lose their way in a forest or a bog
Haldjas (the ruler) - elf, fairy, protector spirit of some place, person, plant or animal
Hall - personification of malaria
Hiid - a giant
Hiiela - another world, land of the dead
Hiieneitsid - maidens from the land of the dead
Hiis - holy grove
Hingeliblikas – a person's spirit in the form of a moth
Hingeloom - a person's spirit in the form of an insect or a small animal
Hoidja - protector
Hämarik - personification of dusk, a beautiful young maiden
Hännamees – a demon who stole and brought food, money and other worldly goods to its maker and owner
Härjapõlvlane - goblin
Ilmaneitsi, Ilmatütar - Air Maiden, Sky Maiden
Ilmarine, Ilmasepp - a mythical blacksmith who forged among other things the Sun and the Moon (cp. Ilmarinen)
Ilo - Joy, the hostess of feasts
Jutta - queen of the birds, daughter of Taara
Juudaline - demon
Järvevana - Old Man from the Lake
Kaevukoll - bogeyman of the well
Kaitsja - protector
Kalevipoeg, Kalevine, Sohni, Soini, Osmi - giant hero, mythical ancient king of Estonia
Kalm - grave; spirit of a dead person; ruler of the land of the dead
Kalmuneiu - Maiden of the Grave; a girl from the land of the dead
Kaval-Ants (Crafty/Sly Hans) - wicked farm hand who deceives his master Vanapagan - the Devil
Kodukäija - a restless visitant ghost
Koerakoonlane - a demonic warrior with a dog snout
Koit - personification of Dawn, a young man, eternal lover of Hämarik
Koll - bogey
Kolumats – bogeyman
Kratt - a demon who stole and brought food, money and other worldly goods to its maker and owner in the form of a whirlwind or meteor-like tail of fire (also called puuk, pisuhänd, tulihänd, hännamees)
Kurat, Kuri, Vanakuri - devil (The Evil One)
Kuu - Moon
Kõu - Thunder; son of Uku, brother of Pikker
Kääbas - grave, death spirit
Külmking - a spirit of an unholy dead
Lapi nõid - witch of Lapland
Laurits - fire god or spirit, related to St. Lawrence
Leiger (player) - a giant living in Hiiumaa island
Lendva - an illness sent by an evil witch
Libahunt - werewolf
Linda - mother of Kalevipoeg
Lummutis - ghost, wraith
Luupainaja - incubus, nightmare
Lämmeküne - cp. Lemminkäinen
Maa-alune - a creature living under the earth and causing illnesses
Maaema - Mother Earth
Maajumalad - Gods of Earth
Majauss - domestic grass-snake, protector spirit
Mana - a hypothetical ruler of the dead
Manala - land of the dead
Manalane - inhabitant of the land of the dead
Marras - spirit of death, predictor of death
Mereveised - Sea cows
Metsaema - Mother of Forest
Metsavana - Old Man of the Forest
Metsik - a fertility god
Mumm - bogey, monster, ghost
Murueide Tütred - daughters of Murueit, beautiful maidens
Murueit - a female spirit of forest and earth, connected to the land of the dead
Nõid - witch
Näkk - mermaid
Olevipoeg - the brother of Kalevipoeg, city builder, related to St Olaf
Painaja - nightmare, incubus
Pakane - Frost
Pardiajaja - half-demonic warrior
Peko - Seto god of fertility and brewing
Pell - a fertility god
Peninukk - half-demonic warrior
Peremees - Master
Pikne, Pikker - Thunder, "The Long One"
Piret - wife of Suur Tõll
Pisuhänd - tail of fire, treasure-bringing goblin
Puuk – treasure-bringing goblin
Põrguneitsi - virgin of Hell
Päike - Sun god
Rõugutaja - a female deity, protector of the rye crops, women in labor and the city of Narva
Sarvik - a horned demon, a devil
Sulevipoeg - Sulev's son, friend of Kalevipoeg
Surm - Death god
Suur Tõll - giant hero living in Saaremaa Island
Taara - the supreme god of the pantheon of Estonian pseudomythology
Taarapita, Tarapita, Tharapita - mythological Osilian God of War
Taevataat - God, literally Sky Father
Tont - ghost
Toonela - land of the dead
Tooni - god of death, ruler of the dead
Toor, Tooru - a deity known in western Estonia, related to Scandinavian Thor
Tulihänd, Pisuhänd - "tail of fire" - flying house elf, helps to gather and protect the wealth
Tuule-Ema - Mother Wind
Tuuleisa - Father Wind
Tuulispea - whirlwind
Tuuslar - a sorcerer living in Finland
Tõnn - a fertility god related to St. Anthony
Täht - god of stars
Udres-Kudres - serf, called "Son of the Sun", hero of folksongs
Uku - the supreme god
Vanatühi - "Old Empty One", or Vanapagan, "Old Heathen" called Old Nick, the devil depicted as dumb giant farmer
Vanemuine - the god of songs
Varavedaja - loot carrier
Varjuline - shadowling
veehaldjas - spirit of the water, the weaver of a spring Ahjualune
Veteema – Mother of Waters
Vetevana - Water Spirit
Virmalised - Polar Lights
Christian saints interpreted as gods:
Jüri (St George) - god of agriculture
Laurits (St Lawrence) - god of fire
Mart (St Martin) - god of fertility
Tõnn (St Anthony) - god of the crops and pigs