Sami Mythology

Age-old Sami mythology was almost completely forgotten a few centuries ago during the religious invasion of the 1600-1700s. The ancient religion and stories featured several Sami characters, who appeared in numerous narratives right across the Sami area. Sami folklore was rich, full of legends and beliefs that were very important in understanding man’s communion with nature. All animate and inanimate things – domestic animals, water, rocks and natural phenomena – had their own supernatural guardians and gods, which affected the daily lives of ancient people. Different Sami tribes had their own ideas of life after death, soul journeys, and other dimensions of the universe. The belief in them was strong. Sorcerers and shamans represented the highest level of learning to the Sami. They were able to explain phenomena that ordinary people could not understand.