The Kalevala is a 19th-century epic poem compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology. It is regarded as the national epic of Finland and is one of the most significant works of Finnish literature. The Kalevala consists of 22,795 verses, divided into fifty songs, and tells the story of the creation of the world, the adventures of the hero Väinämöinen, and the forging of the Sampo, a magical artifact that brings wealth and prosperity. The Kalevala has been translated into over fifty languages and has had a profound influence on Finnish culture and identity.