Thunderbolt
A thunderbolt is a discharge of lightning or a symbolic representation thereof. It has been considered a powerful symbol throughout history, and has appeared in many mythologies. Drawing from this powerful association, the thunderbolt is often found in military symbolism.
In mythology
Lightning plays a role in many mythologies and often has an affiliation with a certain god. The thunderbolt 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 in the west was that of Jupiter in Roman mythology (Zeus in Greek mythology). These thunderbolts were manufactured by Vulcan exclusively for the use of Jupiter. Jupiter used his thunderbolts to strike down notorious criminals and divine opponents.
- In Hittite and Hurrian, 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") cause lightning fire in a hollow sycamore tree.
- In New South Wales, Australia, "Captain Thunderbolt" was a local Bushranger
In military contexts
Because of its association with divine vengeance, "thunderbolt" has been a common name for military devices.
- In heraldry, the thunderbolt is portrayed as wings emitting lightnings and flames; for example, it features on the seal of the United States Air Force.
- 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 Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was one of the main fighters of the USAAF during World War II.
Other uses
Being a powerful name, "Thunderbolts" has on occasion been used as a codename for various teams. The best-known one is probably a Marvel Comics fictional team that went through several incarnations and led at least two series.
The thunderbolt is also a type of warning siren made by Federal Signal Corp. It was introduced in 1952 and was stopped in 1990. The Thunderbolt was used mainly in the Cold War era to warn communities of danger. The Thunderbolt came in 3 models: the Thunderbolt 1000, Thunderbolt 1000T, and the Thunderbolt 1003.