Vellamo

{{short description|Deity}}

{{More citations needed|date=January 2021}}

{{Infobox deity

| type = Finnish

| name = Vellamo

| image = Päijät-Häme.vaakuna.svg

| caption = Vellamo pictured as a mermaid in the coat of arms of Päijänne Tavastia.[https://www.kuntaliitto.fi/kunta/paijat-hame Päijät-Häme – Kuntaliitto] (in Finnish)[https://paijat-hame.fi/paijat-hameen-liitto/maakuntatunnukset/ Maakuntatunnukset – Päijät-Hämeen liitto] (in Finnish)

| deity_of = Mistress of Water

| other_names = Vellimys (Kainuu)

| gender = Female

| ethnic_group = Finns, Karelians

| spouse = Ahti

| offspring = Vellamo's maiden

}}

Vellamo ({{IPA|fi|ˈʋelːɑmo}}), also spelled Wellamo, is the goddess of water, lakes and seas in Finnish mythology. She is called Veen emäntä (Mistress of Water).

Vellamo is said to be tall and beautiful, and is much respected by fishermen, who pray to her for good fishing luck. Vellamo can also control the winds to help sailors, and she controls the storms and waves. Vellamo has magical cows that live on underwater fields. Sometimes, during the morning mist, she brings her cows above the surface to eat water hay. Vellamo wears a blue dress that is made from sea foam.

Vellamo's husband is the Finnish sea god Ahti. In Finnish fishing spells, Vellamo and Ahti are asked to bring their cattle (fish) into fishing nets.{{Cite web|url=http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:sks-kvr-069390|title=SKVR XII2 6709.|website=skvr.fi|publisher=Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura|date=1833|access-date=2025-03-26}}

The {{ill|Maritime Center Vellamo|fr|Centre maritime de Vellamo}}, which is located in the city of Kotka, Finland, is named after Vellamo.[https://www.merikeskusvellamo.fi/en/ VELLAMO, Unexpected points of view.][https://lma.fi/projects/maritime-centre-vellamo Maritime Centre Vellamo - Lahdelma & Mahlamäki architects]