God of Thunder

    

 Perkūnas is a Lithuanian Thunder god and one of the chief deities of the Aistii (ancient Lithuanians) pantheon. He is the right hand of Dievas (God) and often comes to earth to observe how people live and to bring justice. 

 Military units and their insignias often bear his name. Perkūnas is very impatient but truthful, and he never forgives those who do something wrong. He punishes dishonest people, murderers, adulterers, and all those who break the laws of the Dievas. Lithuanians have a respectful fear of Perkūnas, and swearing by him is a common everyday act. They often curse by saying “…may Perkūnas strike you down”.

 

  Perkūnas not only rules over humanity, but he also directs and disciplines the gods. Lithuanians often call him the Father of Sky and the husband of Žemyna, the Goddess of Earth, and the Mother of every earthly living being. In Lithuanian tradition, their wedding is celebrated every spring, when Earth wakes up and becomes fertile again. As the wife of Perkūnas, she requires her husband´s seed, which comes down in the form of rain and spring thunder. No plowing is allowed before the first thunderstorm of the spring. 

 Žemyna also very much loves her parents – the Mother Saulė (Sun) and her father Mėnuo (Moon).  There exists a well-known tale about the heavenly wedding between Saulė and Mėnuo in which, immediately following, Mėnuo cheats on Žemyna’s mother Saulė, after falling deeply in love with Aušrinė (Morning Star). For his infidelity, Perkūnas punished Mėnuo and cut him into pieces with his lightning. Because Moon did not learn from his mistakes, the punishment is repeated every month... After Žemyna’s parents' divorce, both wanted to see their daughter; that is why the Sun shines during the day, while the Moon visits his daughter at night...