PERUN, Slavic God of Thunder

Perun is the mightiest of Slavic Gods, God of princess and knights, invincible warrior, the creator of the thunder and lightning. He maintains order in the Universe, gives victory in the battle and protects the state and the rulers. Of all the gods, he has the closest relationship with the mankind, and as a very powerful God he was honored even by non-Slavic people. He rules the natural phenomena such as rain, lightning, thunder, clouds, and hail and uses them to influence people's lives.  He is often linked to the cults of water, trees and stone. He often hits the oak tree with his lightning thus making it sacred, consecrated tree used for making idols – in this way, Perun gives his holy spirit to the oak tree and fills it with his divine strength. In the similar way, after the lightning had hit the rock, Slavs would wear parts of this "thunder stone“  as amulets. Dragons and fiery rooster, mythological creatures made under the influence of the fire cult were also considered to be in some way connected to Perun.

Perun's weapons are rod, bow, arrows (lightnings) and axe which is his most significant mark – he shoots bad people and ghosts with it. He is represented as an elderly man, with silver- gray hair and golden beard. It was believed that the thunder was, in fact, the sound of him riding his battle gig across the heavens. The gig was yoked by two winged stallions, a white one and a black one. Some Slavs believed that those were, in fact, billy goats.

Thursday is  the day dedicated to Perun. On that day, the priests  consecrate oak trees and light fires to protect  people from lightnings, they give oak twigs to believers and share blessings with the words: „May Perun help us!“ Young roosters, wild goats and bears are sacrificed to his honor. Perun's flower is the blue iris (perunika), as well as plants such as oak, sage, nettle, hazelnut, wheat and house leek.

Measures 4 3/4" tall