Pethakhuweyok (the Thunder Beings)

The Pethakhuweyok, the Thunder Beings or Thunderers, are among the most prominent of the Lenape sky-spirits. Conceived as great winged beings of human-like aspect dwelling above, they bring the storms and hurl lightning; the sharp cracking thunder is said to be the younger ones and the low rumbling the old. As 'Grandfathers,' they are benevolent toward people: they are the sworn enemies of the horned underwater serpents and other monsters, which they strike with their fiery lightning-arrows, and Lenape narratives tell of the Thunderers rescuing human beings from those creatures. Their cycle of stories, including tales such as 'A Man Visited the Thunder Beings' and 'Grandfather Thunder,' is catalogued in John Bierhorst's survey of the Lenape corpus, and they figure in the ceremonial life recorded by Harrington and Speck.

Domains

• thunder and storm
• guardianship against monsters

Powers

• to bring storms and hurl lightning across the sky
• to wage war on the horned water-serpents and other monsters

Epithets

• PèthakhuweyokJohn Bierhorst, Mythology of the Lenape: Guide and Texts (Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1995). (secondary)

Relations

• subordinate to: Kishelemukong (the Great Creator)The Thunder Beings are reckoned among the manitowak created by Kishelemukong; as the 'Grandfathers' of the sky they serve the order the Creator established, guarding humankind from the water-monsters.M. R. Harrington, Religion and Ceremonies of the Lenape (New York: Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, 1921). (secondary)

Sources

• The Pethakhuweyok are the Lenape Thunder Beings, sky-dwelling winged spirits who bring storms, wield lightning, and protect humans by warring on the horned water-serpents.: John Bierhorst, Mythology of the Lenape: Guide and Texts (Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1995). (secondary); M. R. Harrington, Religion and Ceremonies of the Lenape (New York: Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, 1921). (secondary)