Uksáhkká
Sámi · deity · mythic · Recorded classification
Sámi 'door-woman' goddess of the threshold and the newborn (classed as deity). Uksáhkká / Uksakka (uksa 'door' + áhkká). Daughter of Máttaráhkká, sister of Sáráhkká and Juoksáhkká; receives the child at birth and guards the toddling child and all who pass the door. Secondary attestation (Holmberg, Rydving, Læstadius).
Parentage
- mother: Máttaráhkká
Domains
- childbirth and protection of women
- protection
- household
Powers
- Receive the newborn child into the world
- Guard the threshold and protect the child learning to walk
Relations
- sibling: SáráhkkáSister of Sáráhkká.Holmberg, Finno-Ugric Mythology (1927); Rydving, The End of Drum-Time (1993): the three sisters daughters of Maderakka (secondary)
- sibling: JuoksáhkkáSister of Juoksáhkká.Holmberg, Finno-Ugric Mythology (1927); Rydving, The End of Drum-Time (1993): the three sisters daughters of Maderakka (secondary)
Sources
- Uksáhkká (Uksakka; Northern Sámi uksa 'door' + áhkká 'goddess') is the 'door-woman', a daughter of Máttaráhkká, who dwells by the door of the goahti, guards those who pass the threshold, receives the newborn into the world and protects the child afterwards, especially as it learns to walk.: U. Holmberg (Harva), Finno-Ugric Mythology (The Mythology of All Races IV), 1927 (secondary); H. Rydving, The End of Drum-Time: Religious Change among the Lule Saami, 1670s–1740s (1993) (secondary); L. L. Læstadius, Fragments of Lappish Mythology (ms. 1838–1845; ed. Pentikäinen, 2002) (secondary)