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{{Short description|Deity}}

:''Pērkons redirects here. For the rock band, see [[Pērkons (band)]].''

{{redirect|Pērkons|the band|Pērkons (band)}}

{{distinguish|Perkele}}

{{Infobox deity

| type = Baltic

| name = Perkūnas<br>

<small>Pērkons</small>

| member_of = triune godhead including [[Potrimpo]] and [[Peckols]] <small>(allegedly)</small><ref name=el>{{cite encyclopedia | editor=Simas Sužiedėlis | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia Lituanica]] | title=Romuva | year=1970–1978 | publisher=Juozas Kapočius | volume=IV | ___location=Boston, Massachusetts | pages=530| lccn=74-114275 }}</ref>

| image = Perkunas of Kernavės.jpg

| alt = Perkunas of Kernavės

| caption = Statue possibly depicting Perkūnas

| affiliation = Sky, thunder, lightning, storms, rain, fire, war, law, order, fertility, mountains, and oak trees

| cult_center = [[Romuva (temple)|Romuva]] <small>(allegedly)</small><br>[[Vilnius Cathedral#History|Vilnius temple]] <small>(1263-1387)</small>

| weapon = Axe or sledgehammer, stones, a sword, lightning bolts, a bow and arrows.

| symbol = [[Swastika]]

| tree = [[Oak]], [[Rowan]]

| color = Red, White

| day = [[Thursday]]

| Indo-european_equivalent = [[*Perkʷūnos]]

| Slavic_equivalent = [[Perun]]

| Norse_equivalent = [[Thor]]

| Celtic_equivalent = [[Taranis]]

| equivalent1_type = Finnic

| equivalent1 = [[Ukko]]

| mother = [[Percunatele]]

| consort = Aušra or [[Žemyna]]

}}

{{Baltic religion}}

'''Perkūnas''' ({{langx|lt|Perkūnas}}, {{langx|lv|Pērkons}},<ref>{{cite book|last=Caspi|first=Mishael|title=The legend of Elijah in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and literature: a study in comparative religion|year=2009|publisher=[[Edwin Mellen Press]]|isbn=9780773447264|page=164}}</ref> [[Old Prussian]]: ''Perkūns'', ''Perkunos'', [[Sudovian language|Yotvingian]]: ''Parkuns'', [[Latgalian language|Latgalian]]: ''Pārkiuņs'') was the common [[Baltic languages|Baltic]] [[List of thunder gods|god of thunder]], and the second most important deity in the Baltic [[Pantheon (gods)|pantheon]] after [[Dievas]]. In both [[Lithuanian mythology|Lithuanian]] and [[Latvian mythology]], he is documented as the god of sky, thunder, [[lightning]], storms, rain, fire, war, law, order, fertility, mountains, and [[oak]] trees.<ref name="urlEncyclopedia of Russian & Slavic Myth and Legend - Mike Dixon-Kennedy - Google Książki">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eD5AkdM83iIC&q=Perun++sky&pg=PA217 |title=Encyclopedia of Russian & Slavic Myth and Legend - Mike Dixon-Kennedy - Google Książki |isbn=9781576070635 |last1=Dixon-Kennedy |first1=Mike |year=1998 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280977337 | title=Slavic and Greek-Roman Mythology, Comparative Mythology | journal=Brukenthalia Acta Musei | date=12 April 2013 | last1=Dragnea | first1=Mihai }}</ref>

[[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] '''Perkūnas''', [[Latvian language|Latvian]] '''Pērkons''',

[[Old Prussian language|Prussian]] '''Perkūns''' was the common [[Baltic languages|Baltic]] god of [[thunder]], one of the most important deities in the Baltic pantheon. In both [[Lithuanian mythology|Lithuanian]] and [[Latvian mythology|Latvian]] mythology, he is documented as the god of thunder, [[rain]], [[mountain]]s, [[oak|oak trees]] and the [[sky]].

The name survives in Modern Baltic as Lithuanian ''perkūnas'' ("thunder"), ''perkūnija'' ("thunder-storm"), and the Latvian ''pērkons'' (both "thunder" and "thunderstorm"). Alternative names in Latvian are Pērkoniņš (diminutive), Pērkonītis (diminutive), Pērkona tēvs, Vecais tēvs.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

==Etymology==

{{main article|Perkwunos}}

The name possibly continues [[PIE]] ''*{{PIE|Perk^wunos}}'', cognate to ''*{{PIE|perk^wus}}'', a word for "[[oak]]", "[[fir]]" or "wooded mountain". Slavic [[Perun]] is a related god, but not an etymologically precise match.

Finnish [[Perkele]], a name of [[Ukko]], is considered a loan from Baltic.

The name continues [[PIE]] {{lang|ine-x-proto|Perkʷunos}}, cognate to {{lang|ine-x-proto|perkʷus}}, a word for "oak", "[[fir]]" or "wooded mountain". The [[Proto-Baltic language|Proto-Baltic]] name *''Perkūnas'' can be reconstructed with certainty. Slavic [[Perun]] is a related god, but not an etymologically precise match. [[Finnish people|Finnish]] [[Perkele]], a name of [[Ukko]], is considered a loan from Baltic.

==Baltic paganism==

The information about [[Baltic paganism]] in general is very sketchy and incomplete. Lithuanians hadn't developed a literature before Christian times, so all the myths, stories, and customs had to be relayed to future generations [[Oral history|verbally]]. Most of the early written accounts are very brief and made by foreigners, usually Christians, who disapproved of Pagan traditions. Some academics regard some texts as inaccurate misunderstandings or even fabrications. In addition many sources list many different names and different spellings, thus sometimes it is not clear if they are referring to the same thing.

Another connection is that of ''terpikeraunos'', an epithet of [[Zeus]] meaning "''who enjoys lightning''".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b-QfhYxtKScC&pg=PA221 |title=European Paganism: The Realities of Cult from Antiquity to the Middle Ages - Mr Ken Dowden - Google Böcker |date= 4 January 2002|isbn=9780203011775 |access-date=2012-09-03|last1=Dowden |first1=Mr Ken |last2=Dowden |first2=Ken |publisher=Taylor & Francis }}</ref>

Formally, Lithuania was [[baptism|baptised]] between the end of the [[14th century]] and the beginning of the [[15th century]], but pagan religion survived yet for two centuries, gradually losing its cultural influence. The [[Evangelical]] Religion, established in [[Prussia]] by [[Albert of Brandenburg Prussia]] promised to preach to people in their own language, rather than the Latin. Duke Albert established the [[Albertina]] (university) in [[Königsberg]], where languages of the neighboring countries were also taught and the first books in those languages were printed. The last conceptions of the old religion survived approximately until the beginning of the [[19th century]]. However, as it was the tradition, they were never documented by followers of the religion themselves, and all known facts are from documents left by outsiders. From the beginning of the 19th century, in contrast, relics of the old religion were interwoven with other stories of folkloric [[Lithuanian mythology|mythology]], and were subsequently documented quite well, including many testimonies written by storytellers themselves. However, the more syncretic character of this mythology raised some uncertainties and, subsequently, hypotheses and discussions, as to what the pagan Lithuanian religion actually was.

<!--There was no "church" structure to support and protect the old faith. People still remembered old stories and songs but did not connect them into a unified world view. Because of prevailing Christianity, the old religion became a private business. Not having a network to exchange views, myths start to differ greatly in details among the families, towns, and regions. Eventually, it did not matter much if in one song Perkūnas marries Laumė and Žemyna in another because the true sacred meaning behind it was lost.-->

==Perkūnas in written sources==

Most information about Perkūnas comes from [[folklore]] songs, legends, and fairy tales. Because most of them were collected rather late in the 19th century, they represent only some fragments of the whole mythology. Lithuanian Perkūnas has many alternative [[onomatopoeic]] names, like Dundulis, Dindutis, Dūdų senis, Tarškulis, Tarškutis, Blizgulis, etc.<ref>Gimbutiene, Marija. ''Baltai priesistoriniais laikais: Etnogeneze, materialiné kultura ir mitologija''. Vilnius: Mokslas. 1985. p. 167. (In Lithuanian)</ref>

The earliest attestation of Perkūnas seems to be in the Ruthenian translation of the ''Chronicle of [[John Malalas]]'' (1261) where it speaks about the worship of "Перкоунови рекше громоу", and in the ''[[Livonian Rhymed Chronicle]]'' (around 1290) which mentions the idol Perkūnė.

Most information about Perkūnas comes from [[folklore]] songs, legends, and fairy tales. Because most of them were collected rather late in the 19th century, they represent only some fragments of the whole mythology.

In the ''Constitutiones Synodales'' (1530) Perkūnas is mentioned in a list of gods before the god of hell ''Pikuls'' and is identified with the [[Roman mythology|Roman]] [[Jove]] (Jupiter). In the ''[[Sudovian Book]]'' Perkūnas (Parkuns) is mentioned in connection with a ritual involving a goat. In [[Christianity|Christian]] compositions, Perkūnas is a malicious spirit, a demon, as in the ''Chronicle of John Malalas'' or in the 15th century writings of Polish chronicler [[Jan Długosz]].

The earliest attestation of Perkūnas seems to be in the [[Russia]]n translation of the ''Chronicle of John Malala'' ([[1261]]) where it speaks about the worship of "Перкоунови рекше громоу", and in the ''[[Livonia]]n Rhymed Chronicle'' (around [[1290]]) which mentions the idol Perkūnė.

==Representation in mythology==

In the ''Constitutiones Synodales'' (1530) Perkūnas is mentioned in a list of gods before the god of hell [[Pikuls]] and is identified with the [[Roman mythology|Roman]] [[Jove]] (Jupiter). In the ''[[Sudovian]] Book'' Perkūnas (Parkuns) is mentioned in connection with a ritual involving a goat. In [[Christian]] compositions, Perkūnas is a malicious spirit, a demon (as in the ''Chronicle of John Malala'' or in the 15th century writings of Polish chronicler [[Jan Dlugosz]].

[[File:Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis - PERKUNAS (THOR) - 1909.jpg|thumb|300px|''The Hand of Perkūnas'' by [[Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis]]]]

<!-- all the following is mostly from Narbutt, so needs rewriting in order to distinguish sources -->

===Other names===

Perkūnas is the god of lightning and thunder and storms. In a [[Triple deity|triad]] of gods Perkūnas symbolizes the creative forces (including [[vegetation|vegetative]]), courage, success, the top of the world, the sky, rain, thunder, heavenly fire (lightning) and [[Sky|celestial]] elements, while [[Potrimpo]] is involved with the seas, ground, crops, and [[cereal]]s and Velnias/[[Patulas]], with [[hell]], and death. As a heavenly (atmospheric) deity Perkūnas, apparently, is the assistant and executor of [[Dievas]]‘s will. However, Perkūnas tends to surpass Dievas, ''[[deus otiosus]]'', because he can be actually seen and has defined mythological functions.

In the Latvian ''dainas'', the functions of Pērkons and Dievs can occasionally merge: Pērkons is called ''Pērkona tēvs'' ('Father or God of Thunder') or ''Dieviņš'', a diminutive form of ''Dievs''.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Christensen|first1=Lisbeth Bredholt|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rl5_BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA369|title=The Handbook of Religions in Ancient Europe|last2=Hammer|first2=Olav|last3=Warburton|first3=David|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-54453-1|pages=369|language=en}}</ref>

Lithuanian Perkūnas has many alternative [[onomatopoeic]] names, like Dundulis, Dundutis, Dūdų senis, Tarškulis, Tarškutis, Blizgulis, etc.

===Weapons and vehicle===

==Representation in mythology==

Perkūnas is pictured as middle-aged, armed with an [[axe]] and arrows, riding a two-wheeled chariot harnessed with [[goat]]s, like [[Thor]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crvp.org/book/Series04/IVA-17/chapter_iv.htm |title=Gintaras Beresnevičius, Lithuanian Mythology |publisher=Crvp.org |access-date=2012-09-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902025018/http://www.crvp.org/book/Series04/IVA-17/chapter_iv.htm |archive-date=2012-09-02 }}</ref> or Celtic [[Taranis]].

<!-- all the following is mostly from Narbutt, so needs rewriting in order to distinguish sources -->

Perkūnas is the god of lightning and thunder and storms. In a [[triad]] of gods Perkūnas symbolizes the creative forces (including [[vegetation|vegetative]]), courage, success, the top of the world, the sky, rain, thunder, heavenly fire (lightning) and [[celestial]] elements, while [[Patrimpas]], is involved with the ground, crops, and [[cereal]]s) and [[Patulas]], with [[hell]], and death. As a heavenly (atmospheric) deity Perkūnas, apparently, is the assistant and executor of [[Dievas (Lithuanian god)|Dievas]]‘s will. However, Perkūnas tends to surpass Dievas because he can be actually seen and has defined mythological functions.

In other accounts, the thunder god is described as driving a fiery chariot through the skies with swift horses, or riding a fiery horse.<ref name="Straižys, Vytautas 1997">Straižys, Vytautas; Klimka, Libertas. "The Cosmology of the Ancient Balts". In: ''Journal for the History of Astronomy: Archaeoastronomy Supplement''. Vol. 28. Issue 22 (1997): p. S73. [https://doi.org/10.1177/002182869702802207]</ref>

===Perkūnas' family relations===

In songs about a "heavenly wedding" [[Saulė]] (the Sun) cheats on Perkūnas with Mėnulis (the Moon); Perkūnas splits Mėnulis in half with a sword. According to another, more popular, version, Mėnulis cheats on the Sun with [[Aušrinė]] (the morning star) just after the wedding, and Perkūnas punishes it. However, it does not learn and repeats the [[adultery]] and is punished again every month. Other explanations say it is why the Sun shines during the day and the Moon at night. Though divorced, both want to see their daughter [[Žemyna]] (the Earth).

In other songs Perkūnas, on the way to the wedding of Aušra (dawn; the daughter of the Sun), strikes a golden oak. The oak is a tree of the thunder god in the [[Baltic mythology]].<ref>Klimka, Libertas. "[https://www.lituanistika.lt/content/37316 Medžių mitologizavimas tradicinėje lietuvių kultūroje]" [Mythicization of the tree in Lithuanian folk culture]. In: ''Acta humanitarica universitatis Saulensis'' [Acta humanit. univ. Saulensis (Online)]. 2011, t. 13, pp. 22-25. {{ISSN|1822-7309}}.</ref> References to the "oak of Perkūnas" (in Lithuanian, ''Perkūno ąžuolas''; in Latvian, ''Pērkona ozols'') exist in a source dated to the first half of the 19th century.

In songs about a "heavenly wedding" [[Saulė]] (the Sun) cheats on Perkūnas with [[Mėnulis]] (the Moon); Perkūnas splits Mėnulis in half with a sword. According to another, more popular, version, Mėnulis cheats on the Sun with [[Aušrinė]] (the morning star) just after the wedding, and Perkūnas punishes it. However, it does not learn and repeats the [[adultery]] and is punished again every month. Other explanations say it is why the Sun shines during the day and the Moon at night. Though divorced, both want to see their daughter [[Žemyna]] (the Earth).

Other myths say that Perkūnas and one [[Laumė]] or Vaiva (rainbow) were supposed to get married on Thursday, but the bride was kidnapped by Velnias (the devil) and Perkūnas has hunted Velnias ever since.

In other songs Perkūnas, on the way to the wedding of [[Aušra]] (dawn; the daughter of the Sun), strikes a golden oak, most likely in order to expel evil spirits - velnias or snakes - that usually hide below the roots of an oak. The oak is a tree of the thunder god in the [[Baltic mythology]]. Lithuanian ''Perkūno ąžuolas'' or Latvian ''Pērkona ozols'' ("oak of Perkūnas") is mentioned in a source dated to the first half of the [[19th century]]).

Some myths mention four sons of Perkūnas ([[Latvian language|Latvian]]: ''Perkona dēli''; [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]]: ''Perkūno sūnūs''),<ref>Dini, Pietro U. ''Foundations of Baltic Languages''. English translation by Milda B. Richardson, Robert E. Richardson. Vilnius: 2014. p. 282. {{ISBN|978-609-437-263-6}}</ref> who, apparently, are connected with the four seasons or with the four directions of the world (east, west, south and north). Sometimes there are seven or nine Perkūnai referred to as brothers. It is said in Lithuanian ''"Perkūnų yra daug"'' ("there are many thunders").

Other myths say that Perkūnas and one [[Laumė]] (or [[Vaiva]] ([[rainbow]]) in some other accounts) were supposed to get married on Thursday, but the bride was kidnapped by [[velnias]] (devil) and Perkūnas hunts velnias ever since.

In some myths Perkūnas expels his wife (and in some cases his children too) and remains in the sky by himself. Some myths offer a very different story: Dievas lifts Perkūnas from the earth into the sky. Perkūnas has stones in the sky (which rumble during storms) - the motive connected to [[Indo-European mythology]]. Perkūnas dwells on high hills or mountains: compare Lithuanian [[toponymy]] of Perkūnkalnis, "mountain of Perkūnas", or Griausmo kalnas, "mountain of rumble."

Some myths mention four sons of Perkūnas, who, apparently, is connected with the four seasons or with the four directions of the world (east, west, south and north). Sometimes there are seven (in connection to seven days of the week?) or nine Perkūnai referred to as brothers. It is said in Lithuanian "Perkūnų yra daug" (there are many thunders).

In most myths, however, Perkūnas's wife is [[Žemyna]].

In some myths Perkūnas expels his wife (and in some cases his children too) and remains in the sky by himself. Some myths offer a very different story: Dievas lifts Perkūnas from the earth into the sky. Perkūnas has stones in the sky (which rumble during storms) - the [[motive]] connected to [[Indo-European mythology]]. Perkūnas dwells on high hills or mountains: compare Lithuanian [[toponymy]] of Perkūnkalnis, "mountain of Perkūnas", or Griausmo kalnas, "mountain of rumble."

===Perkūnas and the DevilVelnias===

An important function of Perkūnas is to fight the devilVelnias (in Latvian, ''velns'', Lithuanian ''velniasVelns''). The image of velniasHe is affectedsometimes byconsidered [[Christianity]].the It is placed as an opponentantithesis of Perkūnas. Itand is the god of hellthe underworld and death. Its[[Christianity]] otherconsiders names"Velnias" inakin Latvianto andtheir Lithuanian"devil", includethough Vels,this Velnias,is Velinas.not in line with ancient beliefs.

Perkūnas pursues his opponent, velniasVelns, for [[picaroon]] or theft of fertility and cattle. Velnias hides in trees, under stones, or turns into various хтонических or demonic animals: a black cat, dog, pig, goat, lamb, pike, cow (compare to the Latvian representations of velnias''jods'', a creature with the cow hoofs) or a person.

Perkūnas pursues an opponent in the sky on a chariot, made from stone and fire (Lithuanian ''ugnies ratai''). Sometimes the chariot is made from red iron. It is harnessed by a pair (less often four or three) of red and white (or black and white) horses (sometimes goats). Compare the Lithuanian deity of horses and chariots Ratainyčia (Ratainicza mentioned in Lasick‘sLasick's works; from Lithuanian ''ratai'' - "wheel"). It is a mythologized image of a chariot of Didžioji''Didieji MeškaGrįžulo Ratai'' ("Grand Wheels of Grįžulas" ([[Ursa Major]]). It agrees with [[Samogitia]]n representations, in which Perkūnas is a horseman on a fiery horse. On his heavenly chariot Perkūnas appears in the shape of a gray-haired old man with a big beard of many colors, in white and black clothes, holding a goat on a cord in one hand and a horn or an axe in the other.

Perkūnas possesses many weapons. They include an axe or sledgehammer, stones, a sword, lightning bolts, a bow and arrows, a club, [[birch]]es (scourges, ''Dievo rykštė'', "a scourge of the god," is mentioned in Diverikjzj, the Russian [[annals]]), and an iron or fiery knife. Perkūnas is the creator of the weapons (''Akmeninis kalvis'', "the stone smith") or he is helped by the heavenly smith [[Televelis]] ([[Kalvelis]]).

In some representations, lightning (Prussian: ''melde'') is created by heavenly millstones (compare the general Indo-European root *mel|d| for the Balto-Slavic words meaning "lightning", "молот" (sledgehammer), "молотьба" (beating by sledgehammer)). An opponent of Perkūnas hides itself in the hollow of a tree or a stone (attributes of Perkūnas). The [[culmination]] of Perkūnas' hunt for his opponent is a thunder-storm; it not only clears the ground of evil spirits, but returns the stolen cattle or weapons.

Perkūnas is also connected to Thursday. Thursday is the day of the Thunderer in many traditions: compare [[Polabian language|Polabian]] ''Peräune-dǻn'' ("day of Perun"), Lithuanian ''Perkūno diena''. Perkūnas is associated with the Roman god [[Jupiter (god)|Jupiter]] in early sources. Thursday is a day of thunder-storms and rains, and also of weddings.

==Prussian Perkūns==

[[File:Prussian gods (Peckols, Perkunas, Potrimpo).jpg|thumb|The so-called Flag of [[Widewuto]] introduced by Grunau featuring Prussian Perkūns (in the middle)]]

''The Chronicle of Simon Grunau'' (around 1520) describes a [[Prussia]]n [[banner]] with Perkūns on it. The god is represented as an angry middle aged man with a twisted black beard, topped with a flame. It stands between young [[Patrimpas]] and old [[Patulas]]. Perkūns maintains the same central position in the description of the sacred oak in [[Romuva|Romowe]] sanctuary. In front of the oak, the eternal fire (symbol of Perkūns) was burned. Special priests served at the sanctuary. [[Old Prussians]] would try to appeal to the god by prayers. Perkunatete was the mother of Perkūns. It is believed that some attributes of Lithuanian Perkūnas are borrowed from Prussian Perkūns of [[Prussian mythology]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

[[Simon Grunau]] (around 1520) describes a [[Prussia]]n [[banner]] with Perkūns on it. The god is represented as an angry middle aged man with a twisted black beard, topped with a flame. It stands between young [[Patrimpas]] and old Patulas. Perkūns maintains the same central position in the description of the sacred oak in [[Romuva (temple)|Romowe]] sanctuary. In front of the oak, the eternal fire (symbol of Perkūns) was burned. Special priests served at the sanctuary. [[Old Prussians]] would try to appeal to the god by prayers. [[Percunatele|Perkunatete]] was the mother of Perkūns.

==Latvian Pērkons==

[[Image:Stelmužė oak.jpg|thumb|250 px|According to legend, Perkūnas was worshiped beneath the over 1500-year-old [[Stelmužė Oak]]]]

Pērkons was strongly associated with [[Dievs]], though the two were clearly different. The people [[sacrifice]]d black [[cow|calfs]], [[goat]]s, and [[rooster]]s to Pērkons, especially during [[drought]]s. The surrounding peoples came to these sacrifices to eat and drink together, after pouring [[beer]] onto the ground or into the fire for him. The Latvians also sacrificed cooked food before meals to Pērkons, in order to prevent [[thunderstorm]]s, during which [[honeycomb]]s were placed into fires to disperse the clouds.

Pērkons was strongly associated with [[Dievs]], though the two were clearly different. The people [[sacrifice]]d black [[calf (animal)|calves]], goats, and [[rooster]]s to Pērkons, especially during [[drought]]s. The surrounding peoples came to these sacrifices to eat and drink together, after pouring [[beer]] onto the ground or into the fire for him. The Latvians also sacrificed cooked food before meals to Pērkons, in order to prevent [[thunderstorm]]s, during which [[honeycomb]]s were placed into fires to disperse the clouds.

Pērkons' family included sons that symbolized various aspects of thunderstorms (such as thunder, [[lightning]], lightning strikes) and daughters that symbolized various kinds of rain.

Pērkons appeared on a [[gold]]en [[horse]], wielding a [[sword]], [[iron]] [[club (weapon)|club]], golden [[whip]] and a [[knife]]. Ancient Latvians wore tiny [[axe]]saxes on their clothing in his honor.

==In modern culture==

[[File:Perkūno ąžuolas 38 AB.jpg|thumb|Perkūnas [[Oak]] (~500-800 years old) in [[Plungė]], Lithuania<ref>{{cite web |title=Plungėje – įspūdingas gamtos paminklas: pusės tūkstančio metų senumo Perkūno ąžuolas |url=https://www.delfi.lt/miestai/telsiai/plungeje-ispudingas-gamtos-paminklas-puses-tukstancio-metu-senumo-perkuno-azuolas-84842327 |website=[[DELFI]] |access-date=8 December 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>]]

[[File:House of Perkūnas, Kaunas, Lithuania - Diliff.jpg|thumb|The [[House of Perkūnas]] in Kaunas, Lithuania; it was named at the end of the 19th century when a figure, interpreted as an idol of Perkūnas, was found in one of its walls]]

[[Günter Grass]], in his second novel [[Dog Years (novel)|''Dog Years'']] (1963), alludes to Perkūnas ("Perkunos") as a symbol of the dark human energies unleashed by the rise of Nazism in Germany in the 1930s.

The fictional parallel to [[Nazi Germany]] in the 1966 [[alternate history]] novel ''[[The Gate of Time]]'' by [[Philip José Farmer]] - located physically on the site of present day Germany, but dominated by Lithuanians rather than Germans - is called Perkunisha, named after Perkūnas.

Two other alternate history timelines feature a Perkūnas-worshipping Lithuania surviving into the 20th Century, out of diametrically opposing [[Alternate history#Definition|points of divergence]]. In [[Poul Anderson]]'s "[[Delenda Est]]" (1955), the alternate Lithuania arose in a history where [[Ancient Carthage|Carthage]] had defeated and destroyed Rome and there was no [[Roman Empire]]. Conversely, in [[Harry Turtledove]]'s ''[[Gunpowder Empire]]'' (2003), the Roman Empire survived into the 20th Century and beyond, and "Lietuva" emerged as a rival empire to its north. Perkunas is also mentioned in Turtledove's novel in ''[[The Case of the Toxic Spell Dump]]'' (1993).

The Lithuanian folk music group [[Kūlgrinda (band)|Kūlgrinda]] released a 2003 album titled ''Perkūno Giesmės'', meaning "Hymns of Perkūnas".<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/K%C5%ABlgrinda-Perk%C5%ABno-Giesm%C4%97s/release/984949 Kūlgrinda – Perkūno Giesmės]. [[Discogs]].</ref>

''[[Saule, Pērkons, Daugava]]'' is a Latvian choir song composed by [[Mārtiņš Brauns]], based on a 1916 poem by [[Rainis]].

Erica Synths made a drum synthesizer named Perkons.

In August 2023 a totem pole carved with the writing "Perkunas 2023" appeared above the [[White Cliffs of Dover]] in the South of England, UK. To date no one has claimed ownership of the piece and the public are still no wiser as to how it got there.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-10 |title=Mystery totem pole appears from nowhere on clifftop overnight |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/kent-dover-wildlife-trust-totem-pole-b2390093.html |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[PerunHercynian Forest]]

*[[House of Perkūnas]]

*[[Indra]]

*[[Perkwunos]]

*[[PerkelePerun]]

*[[Hercynia silva]]

*[[Thor]]

*[[Thunaer]]

*[[List of Lithuanian gods and mythological figures]]

*[[Indra]]

*[[Taisaku]] [[ten]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

==Further reading==

* {{cite book |first=Nijolė |last=Laurinkienė |url=http://tautosmenta.lt/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Laurinkiene_Nijole/Laurinkiene_1996_Perkunas.pdf |title=Senovės lietuvių dievas Perkūnas |trans-title=Perkūnas - The God of Ancient Lithuanians |publisher=Lietuvos literatūros ir tautosakos institutas |date=1996 |___location=Vilnius |isbn=9986-513-14-6 |lang=LT}}

* {{cite journal |last=Laurinkienė |first=Nijole |date=2000 |title=Transformations of the Lithuanian God Perkūnas |journal=[[Studia Mythologica Slavica]] |volume=3 |pages=149–157 |doi=10.3986/sms.v3i0.1833|doi-access=free }}

* {{cite book |title=The God Perkūnas of the Ancient Lithuanians in Language, Folklore, and Historical Sources |first=Nijolė |last=Laurinkienė |series=Folklore Fellows’ Communications |volume=327 |___location=Helsinki |date=2023 |isbn=978-952-9534-08-1}}

* {{Cite journal |last=Lajoye |first=Patrice |author-link=Patrice Lajoye |date=2018 |title=The Storm God and the Hunter: A Fragment of an Old Balto-Slavic Epos? |trans-title=Le Dieu de l'orage et le chasseur: un fragment d'une ancienne épopée |journal=[[Studia mythologica Slavica]] |volume=21 |pages=27–37 |doi=10.3986/sms.v21i0.7064 |s2cid=166007253 |url=https://www.academia.edu/37587816|doi-access=free }}

* {{cite journal |title=Lit. perkūnas 'piorun, grzmot' - próba weryfikacji etymologii |last=Ostrowski |first=Norbert |journal=Pruthenia |date=2011 |volume=6 |pages=275–280 |lang=PL |url=https://www.lituanistika.lt/content/79177}}

* {{cite journal |last=Tuite |first=Kevin |date=2004 |title=Lightning, Sacrifice, and Possession in the Traditional Religions of the Caucasus |journal=Anthropos: International Review of Anthropology and Linguistics |volume=99 |issue=2004 |pages=143–59 |jstor=40466310}}

* Tuite, Kevin. “Lightning, Sacrifice, and Possession in the Traditional Religions of the Caucasus (Continued from Anthropos 99.2004: 143-159).” Anthropos, vol. 99, no. 2, 2004, pp.&nbsp;481–497. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40466394. Accessed 28 Apr. 2020.

==External links==

<!-- so i don't have to do another round of google searches -->

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051023081417/http://ausis.gf.vu.lt/eka/mythology/sbp.html ausis.gf.vu.lt]

* http://www.pantheon.org/articles/p/perkons.html

* [http://ausiswww.gfcrwflags.vu.ltcom/ekafotw/mythologyflags/sbplt-hist.html crwflags.com]

* [http://www.lituanus.org/1975/75_1_01.htm lituanus.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125015740/http://www.lituanus.org/1975/75_1_01.htm |date=2021-01-25 }}

* http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/lt-hist.html

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050921143723/http://www.druidry.org/obod/deities/lithuanian_paganism.html druidry.org]

* http://www.lituanus.org/1975/75_1_01.htm

* http://www.druidry.org/obod/deities/lithuanian_paganism.html

* http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/3503/lecture.html

* http://www.kresy.co.uk/lithuania.html

* http://www1.omnitel.net/sakmes/perkunas.html

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lithuanian gods]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perkunas}}

[[Category:Baltic gods]]

[[Category:Sky and weather gods]]

[[Category:Thunder gods]]

[[Category:CharactersRain of Lithuanian folk talesdeities]]

[[Category:Lithuanian gods]]

[[Category:Latvian gods]]

[[de:Perkūnas]]

[[Category:Prussian gods]]

[[lv:Pērkons (mitoloģija)]]

[[Category:Jovian deities]]

[[lt:Perkūnas]]

[[pl:Perkun]]

[[ru:Пяркунас]]

[[tr:Perkūnas]]