Thunderbolt

This article is about the mythological weapon. For other meanings, see thunderbolt (disambiguation).

A thunderbolt is a discharge of lightning. In many mythologies, lightning plays a role, and often has an affiliation with a certain god. The thunderbolt, initially just a lightning strike, is often associated with the weapon of a sky god, usually a storm god. As such, it is an unsurpassed method of destruction, and thunderbolts as divine weapons can be found in most mythologies. The most familiar thunderbolt weapon for people in the west was that used by Jupiter in Roman literature and Zeus in the source materials of Greek mythology. These thunderbolts were manufactured by Vulcan exclusively for the use of Jupiter. Jupiter used his thunderbolts generally to strike down notorious criminals and divine opponents only.

In Hittite and Hurrian mythology, a triple thunderbolt was one symbol of Teshub.
In Greek mythology, lightning and thunder are weapons of Zeus, given from Cyclops.
In Maya mythology, Huracan is sometimes represented as three lightning bolts.
In Norse mythology, Odin's spear Gungnir is an embodiment of lightning. In addition, his son, Thor is specifically the God of Thunder and Lightning
In Native American mythology, the Ani Hyuntikwalaski ("Thunder Beings") are beings that cause lightning fire in a hollow sycamore tree.
In New South Wales, Australia, "Captain Thunderbolt" was a local Bushranger

Because of its association with divine vengeance, "thunderbolt" has been a common name for military devices.

The Roman legion Legio XII Fulminata, formed and commanded by Julius Caesar, takes its name and unit emblem from the Latin word for "thunderbolt" (fulmen).
The Wolfsangel symbol in use by the Dutch Nazi 34th SS Grenadier division "Landstorm Nederland" was known as "thunderbolt".
The heraldic American eagle holds in its talons thunderbolts and an olive branch, emblems of war and peace.