10 Facts About Hiisi

Hiisi is a term in Finnic mythologies, originally denoting sacred localities and later on various types of mythological entities.

Hiisi's name is commonly associated with forests, and some forest animals.

In Bishop Mikael Agricola's list of Finnish pagan gods Hiisi is said to have been a god of forest game or fur, sharing this attribute with a similar god, Tapio.

From Hiisi take a horse, from the hard land a trotting horse, the chestnut nag of Hiisi with forelock of fire.

One folklore song gives Hiisi as the origin of the Horse, though claims this is a substitution and that he was originally associated with the Elk, Reindeer or Ox.

Related searches

One song tells of the snake's creation from the saliva of a sleeping Hiisi, which was eaten by Syojatar - it burned and she coughed it out - once dried out Hiisi gave it life.

In Runo VII an evil spirit or agent called Hiisi is blamed for Vainamoinen's self-injury with his axe.

In Runo IX "Hiisi's cauldron" is mentioned as a vessel for creating enchantments.

Hiisi sometimes calls on Hiisi's aid, or others refer to the association as an insult.

In Runo XVIII, for instance, there is a line, "Gently barked the castle's Hiisi", though the text make it clear that is an ordinary dog.