The chief water-god is Ahto, on the etymology of which the Finnish language throws little light.  It is curiously like Ahti, another name for the reckless Lemminkainen.  This water-god, or “Wave-host,” as he is called, lives with his “cold and cruel-hearted spouse,” Wellamo, at the bottom of the sea, in the chasms of the Salmon-rocks, where his palace, Ahtola, is constructed.  Besides the fish that swim in his dominions, particularly the salmon, the trout, the whiting, the perch, the herring, and the white-fish, he possesses a priceless treasure in the Sampo, the talisman of success, which Louhi, the hostess of Pohyola, dragged into the sea in her efforts to regain it from the heroes of Kalevala.  Ever eager for the treasures of others, and generally unwilling to return any that come into his possession, Ahto is not incapable of generosity.  For example, once when a shepherd lad was whittling a stick on the bank of a river, he dropped his knife into the stream.  Ahto, as in the fable, “Mercury and the Woodman,” moved by the tears of the unfortunate lad, swam to the scene, dived to the bottom, brought up a knife of gold, and gave it to the young shepherd.  Innocent and honest, the herd-boy said the knife was not his.  Then Ahto dived again, and brought up a knife of silver, which he gave to the lad, but this in turn was not accepted.  Thereupon the Wave-host dived again, and the third time brought the right knife to the boy who gladly recognized his own, and received it with gratitude.  To the shepherd-lad Ahto gave the three knives as a reward for his honesty.

A general term for the other water-hosts living not only in the sea, but also in the rivers, lakes, cataracts, and fountains, is Ahtolaiset (inhabitants of Ahtola), “Water-people,” “People of the Foam and Billow,” “Wellamo’s Eternal People.”  Of these, some have specific names; as Allotar (wave-goddess), Koskenneiti (cataract-maiden), Melatar (goddess of the helm), and in The Kalevala these are sometimes personally invoked.  Of these minor deities, Pikku Mies (the Pigmy) is the most noteworthy.  Once when the far-outspreading branches of the primitive oak-tree shut out the light of the sun from Northland, Pikku Mies, moved by the entreaties of Wainamoinen, emerged from the sea in a suit of copper, with a copper hatchet in his belt, quickly grew from a pigmy to a gigantic hero, and felled the mighty oak with the third stroke of his axe.  In general the water-deities are helpful and full of kindness; some, however, as Wetehilien and Iku-Turso, find their greatest pleasure in annoying and destroying their fellow-beings.

Originally the Finlanders regarded the earth as a godlike existence with personal powers, and represented as a beneficent mother bestowing peace and plenty on all her worthy worshipers.  In evidence of this we find the names, Maa-emae (mother-earth), and Maan-emo (mother of the earth), given to the Finnish Demeter.  She is always represented as a goddess of great powers, and, after suitable invocation, is ever willing and able to help her helpless sufferers.  She is according to some mythologists espoused to Ukko, who bestows upon her children the blessings of sunshine and rain, as Ge is wedded to Ouranos, Jordh to Odhin, and Papa to Rangi.