these male gods give way to Mothers: a Mother of Water, U ̄ ̄dens ma ̄te; a
Mother of the River, Upes ma ̄te.^148
Everywhere the picture is similar. These cults of fountains and rivers
cannot have developed independently all over Europe and the Middle East.
No doubt the Indo-Europeans had no monopoly in religious feeling and
observance of this type; it may go back tens of thousands of years. But it
must have been part of their religion, and its prevalence among their
linguistic and cultural heirs must be due at least in some degree to the power
of Indo-European tradition.
(^148) Upinis: Mannhardt (1936), 331, 340. Ezernis: Mannhardt, 356, 369 f.; Usener (1896),
- Szullinnys: Mannhardt, 545; Usener, 102. Potrimpo: Mannhardt, 245, 295 f. ~ 362 f.;
Usener, 98 f. U ̄ ̄dens ma ̄te: Mannhardt, 622; LD 30731, 9549 = Jonval nos. 521 f. Upes ma ̄te:
LD 30890 = Jonval no. 519.
6. Storm and Stream 279