Perun
Supreme God of the Slavic Pantheon
Domains
- Thunder & Lightning
- War & Justice
- Fertility & Purification
- Order & Law
Symbols
- Oak Tree
- Thunderbolt
- Axe/Hammer
- Eagle
Description
Perun was the supreme god of the pre-Christian Slavic pantheon, worshipped as the god of thunder, lightning, storms, war, and justice. He was considered the ruler of the living world and protector of truth and order.
His worship was particularly prominent among the Eastern Slavs, where he was the chief deity of Vladimir the Great's pantheon in Kiev before Christianization. Perun's attributes included the oak tree (sacred to him), the thunderbolt, and weapons like axes or hammers.
Mythology
Perun's most famous myth involves his eternal battle with Veles, the god of the underworld. This conflict represented the struggle between order and chaos, with Perun chasing Veles through the world and striking him with lightning when he hid among humans or animals.
Another important myth tells how Perun created the world by striking a cosmic tree with his lightning, releasing the waters of creation and separating the heavens from the earth.
Worship
Perun was worshipped on hilltops and in sacred oak groves. Sacrifices to him included bulls, goats, and roosters. His idols often showed him holding a thunderbolt or axe, sometimes with a silver head and golden mustache.
Many Slavic Thursday traditions (Perun's day) and summer thunderstorms are still associated with Perun's legacy in folk customs across Eastern Europe.