Sea, lakes, rivers

Kalevipoeg walks through the lake

Peipsi reached to my ass,
Saadjärv to the top of my boot,
Kuremaajärv reached to my throat,
Ilmjärv, however, wanted to take the soul,

said Estonian giant and hero Kalevipoeg, barely escaping the lake of Ilmjärv with his life.

 

 

Comment: Ilmjärv or Ilmeni järv, Finnish Ilmajärvi (World/Heaven lake) – a lake in Russia. On its shore is the historical Rurikovo Gorodische (Rurik's Hillfort, Holmgård), founded by the Varangians in the 9th century, predecessor of Veliky Novgorod. 
Peipsi – the biggest lake of Estonia. Saadjärv – the lake in Äksi parish, belongs to the 10 largest and 10 deepest lakes in Estonia. Kuremaajärv (the lake of Stork's Land) – a big lake in Palamuse parish.

Kalevipoeg sammub läbi järve

Kalevipoeg, pääsedes vaevu eluga Ilmjärvest, pajatanud nõnda:

Peipsi ulatas mulle perse,
Saadjärv saapasäärde,
Kuremaajärv ulatas kurku,
Ilmjärv aga tahtis hinge võtta.

Päike peegeldub Saadjärves. Äksi khk. Foto: Taive Särg 2021. The Sun reflection on the lake of Saadjärv.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Päike peegeldub Saadjärves.
The Sun reflection on the lake of Saadjärv.

Mari Lind. Palamuse khk, Kaarepere v. Koguja Karl Lind 1936. ERA II 121, 619 (1). Saadjärv. Äksi khk. 2021. Foto ja inglise tõlge: Taive Särg.

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Laevamäng
Marie Sepp, 74 a. Kolga-Jaani khk, Soosaare v. Kogujad Herbert Tampere ja August Pulst, 1937. ERA, Pl 49 A2.