[Latvian] Perkons (Lithuanian Perkunas, Prussian Percunis, Russian Perun) - Thunder god - is one of the main deities in Baltic (i.e. Latvian, Lithuanian, Prussian) folk religion. Etymologically, the word perkons is derived from the Indo-European stems per(k) (Ivanov, Toporov 1974, 1985.) or per+g(q) (Muelenbach 1904, Endzelins 1951). Three possible interpretations of the word's etymology are known (Biezais 1972): God of thunder and rain (Muelenbach, Wiedemann); God of height, mountain, comparable to Gothic fairguni - "mountain". Hethic peruna - "rock", old Hindu parvata - "mountain" (Karsten, Ivanov); God of oaks, perk-us as compared to Latin quercus - "oak" (Porzig, Hirt, Speht). According to the archaeological data cult of Perkons in Baltic region was widely spread during the 2nd - 4th century CE along with the establishment of the agricultural society there. The first information about the cult of Perkons (Perkuns) practiced by Curonians (one of the Latvian tribes) can be found in th...
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