Thunderbolt
- For other uses, see Thunderbolt (disambiguation).
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.
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 (Hephaestus in Greek mythology) exclusively for the use of Jupiter. Jupiter used his thunderbolts to strike down notorious criminals and divine opponents.
- 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, wielding Mjolnir.
- In Native American mythology, the Ani Hyuntikwalaski ("thunder beings") cause lightning fire in a hollow sycamore tree.
The thunderbolt continues into the modern world as a prominent symbol, and is often featured in heraldry and in military iconography. The thunderbolt is a heraldic device that is typically depicted as winged and emitting flames.