Perkunas

**Perkunas** is a Baltic God of the Sky and Thunder.

## **Background**

Most information about Perkunas 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. The earliest attestation of Perkunas seems to be in the Russian 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.

In the *Constitutiones Synodales* (1530) Perkunas is mentioned in a list of gods and is identified with the Jupiter. In the *Sudovian Book* Perkūnas is mentioned in connection with a ritual involving a goat. In Christian compositions, Perkunas was demonized as in the *Chronicle of John Malalas* or in the 15th century writings of Polish chronicler Jan Długosz.

In some myths Perkunas 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 Perkunas from the earth into the sky. Perkunas has stones in the sky (which rumble during storms) - the motive connected to Indo-European mythology. Perkunas dwells on high hills or mountains: compare Lithuanian toponymy of Perkūnkalnis, "mountain of Perkunas", or Griausmo kalnas, "mountain of rumble."

In most myths, yet, Perkunas' wife is Zemyna.

## **Appearance**

Perkunas appears as a middle-aged man with long hair and beard, armed with an axe and arrows, riding a two-wheeled chariot harnessed with goats.

## **Known Powers and Abilities**

Being one of the head gods of his pantheon, Perkunas is an immensely powerful god, his power surpasses that of Dievas. However a lot of his power remains unknown.

* **Super Strength** - As one of the rulers of his pantheon, Perkunas possesses an immense level of strength, he can easily overpower that god that is below him in power.
* **Super Stamina** - Since Perkunas is a god, he cannot tire and doesn't require any sleep or sustenance to survive.

* **Immortality** - Perkunas, being a god, is immortal, and will live forever.
* **Nigh Invulnerability** - Standard of all gods, Perkunas is invulnerable to all forms of death and cannot be killed by any method.
* **Nigh Indestructibility** - No mortal weapon is capable of causing any damage to Perkunas, only other gods or a weapon of a god can severely damage him.
* **Regeneration** - He is able to take an incredible amount of punishment and recover in mere moments.
* **Weather Manipulation** - Perkunas, similar to other sky gods, has omnipotent control over the weather, and can create destructive thunderstorms when enraged.
* **Electrokinesis** - Perkunas can generate and manipulate lightning and use it offensively with extreme potency.
* **Pyrokinesis** - Quite oddly for a sky god, Perkunas has the ability to generate and control the element of fire, as he is able to set his sword on fire as well as his chariot.

* **Flight** - Perkunas can fly across the sky at will.

## **Weaknesses**

* **Other Deities -** A more powerful god is capable of overpowering and harm Perkunas.
* **Divine Weaponry** - Can cause serious damage to Perkunas.