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In Finnish mythology, the ''Sampo'' or Sammas was a magical artifact of indeterminate type constructed by Ilmarinen that brought good fortune to its holder. When the Sampo was stolen, it is said that Ilmarinen's homeland fell upon hard times and he sent an expedition to retrieve it, but in the ensuing battle it was smashed and lost at sea. The Sampo has been interpreted in many ways: a world pillar or world tree, a compass or astrolabe, a chest containing a treasure, a Byzantine coin die, a decorated Vendel period shield, a Christian relic, etc. In the ''Kalevala'', compiler Lönnrot interpreted it to be a quern or mill of some sort that made flour, salt, and gold out of thin air. The world pillar hypothesis, originally developed by historian of religions Uno Harva and the linguist Eemil Nestor Setälä in the early 20th century, is the most widely accepted one.〔http://www.websters-dictionary-online.com/definitions/Sampo?cx=partner-pub-0939450753529744%3Av0qd01-tdlq&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=Sampo&sa=Search#922〕 According to Giorgio de Santillana, professor of the history of science at MIT, and student of mythology, the sampo and the world pillar both refer to the precession of the equinox. In Hamlet's Mill, co-authored with Hertha von Dechend, the authors find that the sampo or precession process was believed to grind out different world ages, from dark age to golden age and back again over the long precession cycle. == Description in the Kalevala == The Sampo is a pivotal element of the plot of the Finnish epic poem ''Kalevala'', compiled in 1835 (and expanded in 1849) by Elias Lönnrot based on earlier Finnish oral tradition. In the expanded second version of the poem, the Sampo is forged by Ilmarinen, a legendary smith, as a task set by the Mistress of Pohjola in return for her daughter's hand. : ''"Ilmarinen, worthy brother,'' : ''Thou the only skilful blacksmith,'' : ''Go and see her wondrous beauty,'' : ''See her gold and silver garments,'' : ''See her robed in finest raiment,'' : ''See her sitting on the rainbow,'' : ''Walking on the clouds of purple.'' : ''Forge for her the magic Sampo,'' : ''Forge the lid in many colors,'' : ''Thy reward shall be the virgin,'' : ''Thou shalt win this bride of beauty;'' : ''Go and bring the lovely maiden'' : ''To thy home in Kalevala."''〔(Kalevala, Rune X ). Translated by John Martin Crawford (1888).〕 Ilmarinen works for several days at a mighty forge until finally the Sampo is created: : ''On one side the flour is grinding,'' : ''On another salt is making,'' : ''On a third is money forging,'' : ''And the lid is many-colored.'' : ''Well the Sampo grinds when finished,'' : ''To and fro the lid in rocking,'' : ''Grinds one measure at the day-break,'' : ''Grinds a measure fit for eating,'' : ''Grinds a second for the market,'' : ''Grinds a third one for the store-house.''〔 Later, Louhi the sorceress steals the Sampo, provoking Ilmarinen and Väinämöinen to enter her stronghold in secret and retrieve it. Louhi, in reply, pursues them and combats Väinämöinen. In the struggle, Louhi is vanquished but the Sampo is destroyed. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Sampo」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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