by Baiba Meistere
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).
by Aldis Putelis
Auseklis (ausma, “dawn”; aust “to dawn”) is a Latvian stellar (masculine) god. In astronomic interpretations usually understood as planet Venus (there is proof that Venus was called Lielais Auseklis – the Great Auseklis). He is connected with Meness (the moon), but also with Saule (the sun). In the myth of the heavenly wedding, he is one of the suitors of Saules meitas (along with Dieva deli, Meness, and other gods), but in some versions he is just one of the bride’s party. He might also be the only suitor, the mythic material is not clear enough because there is also a great number of texts with an obscure hint to Auseklis as the original bridegroom of Sun’s daughter, which is later stolen by Meness (Moon), in turn being punished by Saule or Perkons.
Witch's Well 