Common among the spiritual beliefs of ancient leptictidium were the tonnu (plural tonnui). Although often translated as "gods", tonnu should more accurately be called "anthropomorphic personifications". They weren't worshiped so much as invoked as guiding influences during shamanistic ceremonies. They featured in a number of myths, but usually never personally interacted with mortals. Oddly enough, tonnu typically weren't portrayed in an anthropomorphic manner in ancient times (at least not what leptics would consider "anthropomorphic"), perhaps to emphasize the tonnuis' connection to whatever it is they're personifying.

Four (and later five) of the most powerful tonnui were those related to the elements Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and the later addition of Spirit. The tonnu of Fire was Kuroffi, often seen in art as a tiger-striped female leptic with a mane and tail puff of fire. (It should be noted that real leptics don't have stripe patterns like those of tigers nor puffs of hair or anything else at the ends of their tails.)

According to modern portrayals, thunderstorms were the results of her fighting with the tonnu of Air, Tiblof, but this is a bowdlerization of the original myths. Originally, while Tiblof was still considered an unwilling participant in their confrontation, Kuroffi wasn't exactly beating him up.


Art © 2010 Marvin E. Fuller