Author(s): Juha Y. Pentikainen; Ritva Poom (Edited and Translated by)

Philosophy

The Kalevala, created during the 1830s and 1840s, is based on folklore collected and compiled by Elias Lonnrot (1802-1884). It initiated the process leading to the foundation of Finnish identity during the 19th century and was one of the factors in the formation of Finland as a nation. The Kalevala also sheds light on the general process involved in the formation of other epics, such as the Niebelungenlied, the Edda, the Vedic books, and Homer's works.

Pentikainen's contribution to the study of international epic is an important contribution to the fields of classics, comparative literature, social history, and, of course, anthropology and folkloristics.