Aino (mythology)

Her brother, having lost a singing contest to the storied Väinämöinen, promised Aino's "hands and feet" in marriage if Väinämöinen would save him from drowning in the swamp into which Joukahainen had been thrown.

Rather than submit to this fate, Aino drowned herself (or was transformed into a nixie).

[4] The name Aino, meaning "the only one", was invented by Elias Lönnrot who composed the Kalevala.

[1] It has returned to favor in the 21st century; it was the most popular name for girls in Finland in 2006 and 2007.

[2] This article related to Finnish paganism or mythology is a stub.

The Aino Myth triptych ( fi ) painted by Akseli Gallen-Kallela in 1891, with his own wife Mary as the model. It depicts the story on three panels: The left one is about the first encounter of Väinämöinen and Aino in the forest. The right one depicts mournful Aino weeping on the shore and listening to the call of the maids of Vellamo who are playing in the water. The central panel depicts fishing Väinämöinen having thrown away a small fish, now turning out to be Aino, who laughs at him and vanishes forever. [ 1 ] [ 2 ]