Tuonela

 

Welcome to the Pre-Christianity version of hell for the Finnish culture. It is named Tuonela or Manala or Pohjola.

The realm is ruled by Tuoni and his wife Tuonetar, the king and queen and embodiments of death. According to The Kalevala, a 19th century collection of Finnish epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from local mythology and folklore, the rulers serve visitors a poison referred to as the “beer of oblivion.” This brew causes drinkers to forget they ever existed and are unable to return to the land of the living.

The realm is merely a gloomier version of Earth where individuals must live out mundane lives with the items they brought to survive. To reach Tuonela, one must make a deadly journey which includes the crossing of a river filled with poisonous snakes with the help of the maiden of death named Tytti. Individuals may enter the realm with the goal of taking magic spells back to the realm of the living; however, the rulers will do all that is in there power to prevent all who enter from leaving.

 

Back Home Next

Enter Heaven