Vainamoinen is the oldest and wisest of the three heroes of the tale, a mighty seer and a master of the kantele, the Finnish lyre. Through the potency of his music, Vainamoinen is responsible for "singing" the world into being. This creation myth is featured prominently at the beginning of the epic.
Vainamoinen's great power of creation comes from his knowledge of the origins of the universe. Through this knowledge he is able to control and even alter reality. As the primary force for good in the epic, he strives to see the harmony of the natural world triumph over the chaos of evil. Even so, Vainamoinen has his flaws. In one episode, he uses magic to trick his faithful friend, Ilmarinen, into going to the evil land of Mistress Louhi. This deception leads to tragedy.....
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