Editing Sampo (section)

== In the Kalevala ==
The Sampo is a pivotal element of the plot of the epic poem ''[[Kalevala]]'', compiled in 1835 (and expanded in 1849) by [[Elias Lönnrot]] based on Finnish and Karelian [[oral tradition]].

In the expanded second version of the poem, the Sampo is forged by [[Ilmarinen]], a legendary [[blacksmith]], to fulfill a task set by the witch queen of [[Pohjola]], [[Louhi]], in return for her daughter's hand.

: ''"Ilmarinen, worthy brother,''
: ''Thou the only skilful blacksmith,''
: ''Go and see her wondrous beauty,''
: ''See her gold and silver garments,''
: ''See her robed in finest raiment,''
: ''See her sitting on the rainbow,''
: ''Walking on the clouds of purple.''
: ''Forge for her the magic Sampo,''
: ''Forge the lid in many colors,''
: ''Thy reward shall be the virgin,''
: ''Thou shalt win this bride of beauty;''
: ''Go and bring the lovely maiden''
: ''To thy home in Kalevala."''<ref name="crawford">[http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/kveng/kvrune10.htm Kalevala, Rune X] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051203011509/http://sacred-texts.com/neu/kveng/kvrune10.htm |date=3 December 2005 }}. Translated by John Martin Crawford (1888).</ref>

{{gallery
|mode=packed
|height=200
|File:Godenhjelm - Ilmarinen takoo Sammon.jpg|''Ilmarinen Forges the Sampo'', [[Berndt Godenhjelm]], 19th century
| File:Väinö Blomstedt - The Forging of the Sampo.jpg|''The Forging of the Sampo'', {{ill|Väinö Blomstedt|fi}}, 1897
|File:Gallen Kallela The Forging of the Sampo.jpg|''The Forging of the Sampo'', Akseli Gallen-Kallela, 1893
|File:Joseph Alanen - The Forging of the Sampo.jpg|''The Forging of the Sampo'', {{ill|Joseph Alanen|fi}}, 1910–1911
|File:"Forging the Sampo" (musée national, Helsinki).jpg|''The Forging of the Sampo'', [[fresco]] in the [[National Museum of Finland]] by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, 1928
}}

Ilmarinen works for many days at a mighty forge until he finally succeeds in creating the Sampo:

: ''On one side the flour is grinding,''
: ''On another salt is making,''
: ''On a third is money forging,''
: ''And the lid is many-colored.''
: ''Well the Sampo grinds when finished,''
: ''To and fro the lid in rocking,''
: ''Grinds one measure at the day-break,''
: ''Grinds a measure fit for eating,''
: ''Grinds a second for the market,''
: ''Grinds a third one for the store-house.''<ref name="crawford" />

Later, [[Louhi]] steals the Sampo, and then Ilmarinen and [[Väinämöinen]] enter her stronghold in secret and retrieve it. Louhi pursues them and combats Väinämöinen. In the struggle, Louhi is vanquished but the Sampo is destroyed.

{{gallery
|mode=packed
|height=200
|File:Sammon haku.jpg|''The Retrieval of the Sampo'', showing [[Lemminkäinen]] ploughing up its roots with a bull. [[Mosaic]] by {{ill|Veikko Aaltona|fi}}, 1940
|File:Väinö Blomstedt - The Theft of the Sampo.jpg|''The Theft of the Sampo'', Väinö Blomstedt, 1897
|File:Sammon puolustus.jpg|''[[The Defense of the Sampo]]'', Akseli Gallen-Kallela, 1896
|File:Suur-Kalevala. Sampolaisten veneen kokka, jousimiehiä D-GKM-508.tif|Crossbowmen defending the Sampo, sketch [[pastel]] by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, early 20th century
|File:Joseph Alanen - The Defence of the Sampo.jpg|''The Defence of the Sampo'', Joseph Alanen, 1910–1912
}}