Ukko (mythology)

A stone axe in the shape of a man, possibly depicting Ukko, picture by Esa Suominen

Ukko, also known as Perkele, was the Finnish god of the sky, weather, thunder, and agriculture, who was likely seen as one of most important deities of the pantheon.

Role of Ukko in Ancient religion

There are no myths of Ukko surviving to the present days, but based on research around folk traditions, it can be assumed that he was a very revered god among the various tribes that lived in ancient Finland.

Sky and weather god

Ukko is the god of the sky, and is paired with Rauni, the goddess of the earth. This makes the two deities a representation of the common sky father/earth mother-motive across many ancient religions. Rain and storms were usually seen as signs of the two deities copulating or the god traveling across the sky on his chariot.

As the god of the weather and especially rain, Ukko was an important god to ancient agriculture.

Warrior and protector

Carrying the mythical hammer called Ukonvasara (alternatively also an axe) as well as a bow and arrows, Ukko served also as a god of war for the ancient Finnish tribes. The natural phenomena of lighting was thought to be him striking with his hammer and shooting arrows.

Ukko was also a protector of people and places, often invoked by shamans to keep the home safe from evil spirits and watching over the birth of children. It was common for shamans to collect specific stones called ukonvaaja as protective amulets, since it was thought these stones had once been weapons of the god.

Ukko and Christianity

With the arrival of Christianity in Finland, the role of Ukko and other Finnish deities and spirits in the local religion started to change.

Ukko was seen sometimes:

• As the same being as the Abrahamic God, as both were seen as the supreme being in both cultures.
• An archangel, who got to hold his name and attributes of lighting and war.
• The Devil, as his alternative name Perkele became synonymous with Satan.
• The Old Testament Prophet Elijah, which a common tradition with Northern and Eastern European thunder gods.

Trivia

• Ukko can be compared to the gods of several other religions and mythologies, such as Zeus, Thor, Perun and Baal.