Stallo

GiantFinland · Northern EuropeLegendFear 7/10

Description

Enormous stupid giant of Sámi tradition who terrorizes reindeer herders. Strong but dim-witted, frequently outsmarted by clever children. Carries a knife the size of a man

The Legend

In Sámi folklore, Stállo (or Staaloe, Stalo, Northern Sámi Stállu) is described as a large, human-like creature that enjoys eating people. Stállo is clumsy and has low intelligence, allowing humans to often gain the upper hand over them. According to legend, Stállo placed a massive stone called 'stalostenen' on a small pebble near Lake Giengeljaure to prove its strength.

Variants

As ancient building ruins in the Sámi region are believed to be related to 'Stallo', archaeologists have come to refer to these ruins as 'Stallo sites'. These structures are actually round or oval in shape, with diameters ranging from 4 to 6 meters, and are arranged linearly from two to eight (rarely up to fifteen). To date, about 60 Stallo sites are known, distributed along the Norway-Sweden border. They appear to have been most widely used around 800 to 1050 AD, during the Viking Age.