Nakinneito
The Nakinneito is Finland's water maiden — the female of the dangerous Nakki, a gleaming mermaid seen combing her long curls on the water.
At a glance
- Tradition
- Finnish folklore
- Region
- Finland (place of origin)
- Trait family
- The Water-Beckoners
Near this figure
Symbols
Judged against the description by a model. Meanings are our own paraphrase.
- Breast bears image-domain The breast denotes the source and its provision, the infant's first world, holding feminine nourishment and, in the solar aureola, a masculine creative power.
why
Her most particular recorded trait is an endowment the tellers evidently enjoyed — breasts so voluptuous she can throw them over her shoulder — and she is most often seen out on the water, combing her long curly hair.
- Mermaid is image-domain The mermaid denotes alluring danger risen from the depths, woman above and fish below, whose song and sensual promise draw a mortal toward the water.
why
The Nakinneito is Finland's water maiden — the female of the dangerous Nakki, a gleaming mermaid seen combing her long curls on the water.
Traits
Read from the figure's description, which a model wrote. Open "why" for the sentence a trait came from.
Sight and sound
- Combs golden hair by water
why
Her most particular recorded trait is an endowment the tellers evidently enjoyed — breasts so voluptuous she can throw them over her shoulder — and she is most often seen out on the water, combing her long curly hair.
Roles
Judged from the works' own entries, not from the description. Carries: the figure holds the role. Meets: the role is in its stories, held by something it meets.
- Anima carries both readings
3 citations
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Nakinneito."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Nakinneito."
- George M. Eberhart, Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, s.v. "Nakinneito."
- Trickster carries
3 citations
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Nakinneito."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Nakinneito."
- George M. Eberhart, Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, s.v. "Nakinneito."
- Water carries
3 citations
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Nakinneito."
- Carol Rose, Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins, s.v. "Nakinneito."
- George M. Eberhart, Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology, s.v. "Nakinneito."