Thunderbolt

For other uses, seeThunderbolt (disambiguation).

Zeus' head and thunderbolt on a coin fromEpirus,234 BC.

The thunderbolt pattern with aneagleon a coin fromOlympia, Greece,432-c.421 BC.

Zeus' head and thunderbolt on a coin fromCapua,Campania,216-211 BC.

Ptolemaiccoin showing theEagle of Zeus,holding a thunderbolt

Athunderboltorlightning boltis a symbolic representation oflightningwhen accompanied by a loudthunderclap.In Indo-European mythology, the thunderbolt was identified with the'Sky Father';this association is also found in laterHellenicrepresentations ofZeusandVedicdescriptions of thevajrawielded by the godIndra.It may have been a symbol of cosmic order, as expressed in the fragment fromHeraclitusdescribing "the Thunderbolt that steers the course of all things".

In its original usage the word may also have been a description of the consequences of a close approach between two planetary cosmic bodies, asPlatosuggested inTimaeus,or, according toVictor Clube,meteors,though this is not currently the case. As a divine manifestation the thunderbolt has been a powerful symbol throughout history, and has appeared in manymythologies.Drawing from this powerful association, the thunderbolt is often found in military symbolism andsemioticrepresentations of electricity.

In religion and mythology

See also:Lightning in religionandList of thunder gods

Neo-Atticbas-relief sculpture ofJupiter,holding a thunderbolt in his right hand; detail from theMoncloaPuteal(Roman, 2nd century), National Archaeological Museum, Madrid

Lightning plays a role in many mythologies, often as the weapon of asky godandweather god.As such, it is an unsurpassed method of dramatic instantaneous retributive destruction: thunderbolts as divine weapons can be found in many mythologies.

• in theTorah,the word for 'arrow',khetsחֵץ,is used for the "arrows" ofYHWH/Elohim,which are represented as lightnings inHabakuk3:11, but also as general calamities inflicted on men as divine punishment inDeuteronomy32:42,Psalm 64:7,Job6:4, etc.
• InChristianity,One of its most significant verses is Deuteronomy 6:4, Verses 6:4–5 were also quoted byJesusin Mark 12:28–34 as theGreat Commandment.TheSecond ComingofJesusis compared to lightning (Matthew 24: 27,Luke 17: 24). With the establishment of Christianity, it passed into popular belief that lightning is the fire that leaves behind the chariot of the ProphetElijahas it runs through the sky, while thunder is the rattle of the feet of the horses that drag his chariot. According to another tradition, lightning and thunder are more island-like are the cannons fired by theArchangel MichaelagainstSatan.
• InHittite(andHurrian) mythology, a triple thunderbolt was one symbol ofTeshub(Tarhunt).
• Vedic religion(and laterHindu mythology) the godIndrais the god of lightning. His main weapon is the thunderbolt (Vajra).
• InGreek mythology,the thunderbolt is a weapon given toZeusby theCyclopes.Based on this, inRoman mythology,the thunderbolt is a weapon given toJupiterby the Cyclopes, and is thus one of the emblems of Jupiter, often depicted on Greek and Roman coins and elsewhere as an eagle holding in its claws a thunderbolt which resembles in form a bundle of crossed sticks.
• InCeltic mythology,Taranisis the god of thunder, inIrish,Tuireann.
• InNorse mythology,Thoris specifically the god of thunder and lightning, wieldingMjolnir
• InSlavic mythology,Perunis the god of the sky, controlling storms, thunder and lightning and wields theAxe of Perun.
• InFinnish mythology,Ukkois the god of thunder and lightning, wieldingUkonvasara.
• InTurkish mythology,Bayülgencreates the thunderbolts.
• InMaya mythology,Huracanis sometimes represented as three thunderbolts.
• InGuaraní mythology,Tupãis the embodiment of thunder and has power over lightning.
• InCherokeemythology, theAni Hyuntikwalaski( "thunder beings" ) cause lightning fire in a hollowsycamoretree.
• InOjibwaymythology, thunder is created by theThunderbirds(Nimkiig or Binesiiwag), which can be both benevolent and malevolent to human beings.
• InIgbo mythology,the thunderbolt is the weapon ofAmadioha/Amadiora.
• InYoruba mythology,the thunderbolt is the weapon ofShango.
• InTibetan Buddhism,theVajraor thunderbolt is symbol ofVajrayanabranch.
• InPaleo-Balkan mythology,Zibelthiurdos (also "Zbelsurdos", "Zibelthurdos" ): a god recognized as similar to the GreekZeusas a wielder of lightning and thunderbolts.
• InNavajo mythology,the hero twins, Naʼídígishí and Naayééʼ Neizghání, have bows that shoot thunderbolts as arrows.
• InChinese mythology,Lei Gonguses thunderbolts as a weapon and his wife,Dian Mu,creates the accompanying lightning flashes with her mirror.

Thunderstones

The name "thunderbolt" or "thunderstone" has also been traditionally applied to the fossilisedrostraofbelemnoids.The origin of these bullet-shaped stones was not understood, and thus a mythological explanation of stones created where a lightning struck has arisen.

In the modern world

The thunderbolt or lightning bolt continues into the modern world as a prominent symbol; it has entered modernheraldryand military iconography.

In iconography

• The thunderbolt is used as an electrical symbol.
• A thunderbolt is used in thelogoof the Australian hard rock bandAC/DC.
• A thunderbolt is used in the logo of the German car manufacturerOpel.
• Thelogoof thePeople's Action PartyinSingapore.
• The thunderbolt used bysquattersas their insignia.
• Numerousfascistorganizations such as theSchutzstaffel,theBritish Union of Fascists,and theUnion of Bulgarian National Legions(SBNL) have historically used thunderbolts as their symbols.

In fiction

• In theDC Universe,the thunderbolt is the symbol seen on the chest (or entire torso) of the costumes worn byShazam,theFlash,Lightning Lad,Lightning Lass,Black Lightning,andStatic.
• In theMarvel Universethe thunderbolt is the symbol seen on the torso of the costumes worn byElectro,Quicksilver,Black Bolt,Speed Demon,Ms. Marvel,and is also the name of asuperhero team.
• The thunderbolt is used in the logo of thePower Rangersfranchise.
• In theHarry Potterfranchise, the scar onHarry's forehead is in the shape of a thunderbolt.
  • The letter "P" in theHarry Potterlogo is also stylized in the shape of a thunderbolt.
• In the novelThe Godfather,"being hit with the thunderbolt" is an Italian expression (colpo di fulmine) referring to a man being spellbound at the sight of a beautiful woman (like the so-calledlove at first sight). The novel's emerging main character is affected in this fashion and eventually marries a woman whose appearance initially affects him in this way.

Gallery

• 
  Typicalcartoonrepresentations of thunderbolts (lightning bolts)
• 
  Thunderbolts represented on theRoyal Engineers' Ensign
• 
  Modern renditions of the thunderbolt surrounding the classical design
• 
  Vulcanforging the thunderbolts of Jupiter
  (byPieter Paul Rubens)
• 
  Thunderbolt through circle used assquatters' symbol
• 
  Thunderbolt through circle in theUnion of Bulgarian National Legions(SBNL) emblem
• 
  Opel's logo represents thunderbolt
• 
  The shield ofStrategic Air Commandshows a mailed hand holding anolive branchand thunderbolts

See also

• Mjölnir
• Thunderstone (folklore)
• Vajra

External links

• Quasi-realtime thunderbolt information in Japan (Japanese)