Kalevipoeg

'Kalevipoeg' (Kalev's Son) is an epic poem by
Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald held to be the Estonian
national epic. The earliest written references are found in
Leyen Spiegel in 1641 as 'Kalliweh', and in a list of deities
published by Mikael Agricola in 1515. The giant Kalevipoeg
was the youngest son of Kalev and Linda, born after his father's
death and surpassed his brothers in intelligence and strength.
In Estonian (mainly East Estonian) legends, Kalevipoeg carries
stones or throws them at enemies, and also uses planks edgewise
as weapons, following the advice of a hedgehog. He also forms
surface structures on landscape and bodies of water and
builds towns. He walks through deep water. Kalevipoeg
eventually dies after his feet are cut off by his own
sword owing to his own prior — and fatally
ambiguous — instructions.

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illustrations by Jüri Arrak (1936-)