Mielikki
| Mielikki | |
|---|---|
Mistress of the Forest | |
| Other names | Central Finland: Siilikki, Siivikki Forest Finns: Annikka Kainuu: Annikki, Menninki, Mielis-neiti, Mikikki, Mitikkä, Tapio Karelia: Annikka, Annikki, Annukk', Himmerkki, Huijutar, Kuitar, Kuiter, Kuitio, Kuuriitar, Lemmitär, Malitar, Mesitär, Metikki, Metsätär, Meččätär, Meziter, Mielikko, Mielotar, Mieluneito, Mieluutar, Mierotar, Miiriitar, Mikitär, Mimerkki, Nylgysä, Nylkys, Nyrkiö, Nyrkkiö, Nyrkytär, Simanter, Tapio, Tapiotar, Tarkotin Lapland: Annikka Ostrobothnia: Annukka, Höytöri, Mieli, Mielis-neiti, Mieluneiti, Mielus, Tapiotar, Tinatti Savo: Annikka, Himmerkki, Hyyperö, Hyypiö, Metikki, Mielu, Mielus, Mielutar, Muurutar, Tapio, Tapiotar, Tuuvikki, Varvutar Tavastia: Tapio |
| Gender | Female |
| Ethnic group | Finns, Karelians |
| Offspring | Tellervo Tuulikki Nyyrikki |
| Equivalents | |
| Estonian | Metsaema |
| Livonian | Mõtsa-jema |
| Erzyan | Viŕ-ava |
Mielikki (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈmie̯likːi]) is the Finnish goddess of forests and the hunt. She is usually called Metsän emäntä (lit. 'Mistress of the Forest'), though the epithet Metsän miniä (lit. 'Daughter-in-law of the Forest') also exists. As the mistress, she is seen as the wife of Tapio and the mother of Tuulikki, Tellervo and Nyyrikki.
She was more important and prayed to more often than her husband Tapio. "Tapio" also appears as a name of Mielikki, and the feminized form "Tapiotar" appears as a name of Mielikki as well as Tuometar and Hongatar, both sometimes called Tapio's daughter.