Iku-Turso (creature)

[1] His appearance remains unclear, but he is described with several epithets: partalainen (the one who lives on the brink, or alternatively, the bearded one), Tuonen härkä (the ox of Tuoni, Death), tuhatpää (thousand-headed), tuhatsarvi (thousand-horned).

Some runes tell that Meritursas partalainen makes pregnant the Maiden of Air (Ilman impi, Ilmatar).

Later, Iku-Turso is summoned by Louhi, the Lady of the North, to stop the theft of the magical artifact Sampo.

Väinämöinen, the leader of the plunderers, grabs Iku-Turso from his ears and using magical words makes him promise to never return from the bottom of the sea.

[1] Other things named after the mythical being are the Asteroid 2828 Iku-Turso and a Finnish metal band Turisas.

Two variants of tursaansydän (heart of Tursas), also known as mursunsydän (heart of walrus ), an ancient Scandinavian symbol believed to bring good luck and protect from curses.