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Finland

Nine Diseases

The Nine Diseases

In the Finnish mythology, there are nine sons of Loviatar the blind daughter of Tuoni. She was impregnated by the wind, but there are also some rumors in Finland that the great sea demon Iku-Turso was the creature that fathered them. The Kalevala (the national epic of Finland) states that the sons were named Pistos (consumption), Ähky (colic), Luuvalo (gout), Riisi (rickets), Paise (ulcer), Rupi (scab), Syöjä (cancer), and Rutto (plague). There was a ninth that is not named in the mythology but is the son of envy. He was a witch that was banished by his mother to become the scourge of mankind. It is widely unkown about the nine diseases but some excerpts are said that the witch is a tenth son. Some excerpts use more esoteric names such as Nuolennoutaja (Retriever of arrow), Painaja (Strainer), Kielen kantaja (Carrier of tongue), Ohimoiden ottaja (Taker of temples), and Sydämen syöjä (Eater of heart). Louhi, the Mistress of North acted as a midwife to the sons.

Drawing: John T., Santan JHS
Text: John T., Santan JHS
Background: Max C., Lower Canada College

Citation: "Nine Diseases." Wikipedia . 24 Sept. 2006. 12 Jan. 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_diseases>.

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