Tiera
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Tiera is a name which appears in Finnish mythology and Finnish and Karelian runic songs. Multiple variations of the name exist. In some runic songs and the Kalevala, Tiera appears as a warrior.
First written down runic song mention of a similar name is from 1786, when a common lizard is called Iki-Tiitty äjjyn poika, / pääpuikko Panulan nejjen, / Syöjättären rintasolki 'Iki-Tiitty son of Äijy, / main stick of Panula's maiden, / brooch of Syöjätär', etc.[1] Christfried Ganander called Iki-Tiitty the father of the common lizard.[2]
In runic songs from Kainuu and White Karelia, Tiera appears in songs describing the origin of horses. He might give birth to a horse (out of sand and foam),[3] or a horse itself might be called Hepo Tiera, Nieran poika, / Juuttaan äpäre-lapsi 'Horse Tiera son of Niera, bastard child of Judas'.[4] In both regions, he is also called Äijön poika 'Äijö's son' or Äijön lapsi 'Äijö's child', Äijö typically referring to the Devil. In a White Karelian runic song, Iki Tiera Lieran poika 'eternal Tiera, son of Liera' is asked to help a horse's castrator.[5]
In White Karelian songs sung by Arhippa Perttunen, Iku-Tiera is described as a warrior, a helper and friend of Väinämöinen, who accompanies him to steal the sampo from Pohjola.[6] In White Karelian songs sung by many others, this helper is Vesiviitto, Väinön poika 'Water cape, son of Väinö'[7] or Vesi Liito, Laito poika.[2] A warrior named Teiri or Teuri appears as a friend of Ahti Saarelainen.[8]
In North Karelia and North Ostrobothnia, epithets such as Hiki Tiera, mieron huora ('Sweat Tiera, whore of the world') refer to Louhi.[9]