Nine diseases

In Finnish mythology, the Nine diseases are the sons of Louhi, the goddess of death and disease. She is impregnated by wind or the waves of the sea giant Meri-Tursas. She names them after diseases or disasters. The ninth, a witch and the worst of all, remains unnamed. He, the personification of envy, is banished by his mother to become the scourge of mankind. Other rune versions mention nine diseases by name the witch being the tenth son. Some of them also use more esoteric names such as Nuolennoutaja (Retriever of arrow), Painaja (Strainer or nightmare), Kielen kantaja (Carrier of tongue), Ohimoiden ottaja (Taker of temples), and Sydämen syöjä (Eater of heart), which can as well be interpreted as names of diseases.

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