What epic poem is the Kalevala?

The Kalevala is not an epic poem in the traditional sense of being a single, unified work. It's actually a collection of Finnish folk poems, songs, and myths compiled by Elias Lönnrot in the 19th century.

Think of it as an anthology of epic poems that were originally passed down orally. Lönnrot gathered these fragments, edited them, and arranged them into a coherent narrative, creating the epic poem we know today as the Kalevala.

So, while the Kalevala itself isn't one single epic poem, it's a collection of epic poetry that forms the foundation of Finnish mythology and culture.