Tapio (spirit)
| Tapio | |
|---|---|
King of the Forest | |
| Other names | Central Finland: Hippa Ingria: Hiippa, Hilli Kainuu: Hilli, Kuittola, Kulkia, Rauhio Karelia: Ahohippa, Havuhippa, Havuhippo, Hiia, Hiippa, Hiisi, Hilli, Hippa, Hippi, Hippo, Huitua, Hulli, Kuituva, Tabia, Tapia, Viippo Lapland: Hilli, Kulkia Ostrobothnia: Havuhippa, Hilli, Hilppa, Hippa, Hippo, Hukka, Huuhkana, Iivana, Kuikuli, Kuippana, Kuittia, Kuitua, Kulkia Satakunta: Hiisi, Hipa, Hippi, Tapiainen Savonia: Hiippa, Hilja, Hilli, Hippa, Hippahattu, Hippo, Huippa, Kuihkamo, Kuihkanen, Kuippana, Kuituri, Kulkia, Vippo Tavastia: Hippa Uusimaa: Hyppä |
| Abode | Forest |
| Tree | Picea abies f. tabulaeformis |
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnic group | Finns, Karelians |
| Genealogy | |
| Spouse | Mielikki |
| Offspring | Tellervo Tuulikki Nyyrikki |
Tapio (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈtɑpio]), Kuippana or Hippa is a Finnish forest spirit or god in Finnish mythology. He is called the King of the Forest (Metsän kuningas). Hunters prayed to him before a hunt. His wife is the goddess of the forest, Mielikki. He is the father of Tellervo, Tuulikki and Nyyrikki (Pinneus). Fitting the Green Man archetype, Tapio has a beard of lichen and eyebrows of moss.
In runic songs, the name Tapio often refers to the feminine ruler of the forest, Mielikki (as well as the feminized version of the name, Tapiotar), or appears as a synonym for the word metsä 'forest'.
Many of Tapio's epithets, including "King of the Forest" and "grey-beard", are also used in runic songs to refer to the bear.