Tellervo
| Tellervo | |
|---|---|
Maiden of Tapio | |
A statue of Tellervo in Kolmikulma Park by Yrjö Liipola, 1928 | |
| Other names | Tillervo, Tellervö |
| Gender | Female |
| Ethnic group | Finns, Karelians |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents | |
Tellervo (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈtelːerʋo]) is the Finnish goddess of forests. She is the daughter of Tapio, the King of the Forest.
Mentions of Tellervo in runic songs are limited to Kainuu, North Karelia, the Karelian Isthmus and White Karelia. In Kainuu and White Karelia, Tellervo is asked to help with hunting a bear; in North Karelia, to find help against an illness that came from the forest; on the Karelian Isthmus, to protect cattle.
It has been suggested that the Tellervo name is a variant of Hillervo, Mother of Otters, mentioned in one runic song. This view has been supported by e.g. M.A. Castrén and Martti Haavio.