Akka (spirit)

For other meanings, see Akka (disambiguation).
Excerpt of a sami drum of the southern sami type, with three typical motives emphasized: the storage house (1), the pound (2) and the mother goddesses Sáráhkká, Juoksáhkká and Uksáhkká (3-5).

Akka is a female spirit in Sami shamanism and Finnish mythology. Worship of the akka was common and took the form of sacrifices, pleas for help and various rituals. Some Sámi believed the akka lived under their tents. As with other gods, the name appears within some geographical names, leaving a legacy of Sami presence.

Sami mythology

Akka in Finnish and Estonian mythologies

In Finnish mythology, Akka is the wife of Ukko and is the goddess of fertility. As they make love, thunder rolls. She could be seen as the female side of nature, Maaemonen "mother earth", whom Ukko fertilizes.

In Estonian mythology she is known as Maan-Emo.[4][5]

References

  1. Andrews, Sara. "Women in Saami Society". Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  2. Olakunle, Olusegun Olawale. "The Sarahkka – Sámi womans organization". Project 200501253-39. University of Trømso. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  3. Olakunle, Olusegun Olawale (2006). The Sarahkka and The Sami Nisson Forum : a general overview of their historical background, and a consideration on the roles of these Sámi women organisations in the quest for the right to self-determination of the Sámi indigenous peoples of Norway. Tromsø: O. O. Olakunle.
  4. Guirand, Félix (1959). Larousse encyclopedia of mythology. Prometheus Press. p. 318.
  5. Carlyon, Richard (1981). A guide to the gods. Heinemann/Quixote. p. 257.
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