Typical cartoon representations of thunderbolts

A thunderbolt is a traditional expression for a discharge of lightning or a symbolic representation thereof. In its original usage the word may also have been a description of meteors^[1], although this is not currently the case. As a divine manifestation it has been a powerful symbol throughout history, and has appeared in many mythologies. Drawing from this powerful association, the thunderbolt is often found in military symbolism and semiotic representations of electricity. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A cartoon is any of several forms of illustrations with varied meanings that evolved from its original meaning. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... The word mythology (from the Greek μυολογία mythología, from μυολογείν mythologein to relate myths, from μύος mythos, meaning a narrative, and λόγος logos, meaning speech or argument) literally means the (oral) retelling of myths – stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use the supernatural to interpret natural events and... Semiotics (also spelled Semeiotics) is the study of signs and sign systems. ...

Lightning plays a role in many mythologies, often as the weapon of a sky and storm god. As such, it is an unsurpassed method of dramatic instantaneous retributive destruction: thunderbolts as divine weapons can be found in most mythologies. The most familiar thunderbolt weapon in the West was that of Zeus or Jupiter. His thunderbolts, manufactured by Hephaestus/Vulcan, were used to strike down impious criminals and divine opponents. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia Phidias created the 12-m (40-ft) tall statue of Zeus at Olympia about 435 BC. The statue was perhaps the most famous sculpture in Ancient Greece, imagined here in a 16th century engraving Zeus (in Greek: nominative: Zeús, genitive: Diós), is... Jupiter et Thétis - by Jean Ingres, 1811. ... Hephaestus, Greek god of forging, riding a Donkey; Greek drinking cup (skyphos) made in the 5th century BC Hephaestus (IPA pronunciation: or ; Greek Hêphaistos) was the Greek god whose Roman equivalent was Vulcan; he was the god of technology including, specifically blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals and metallurgy, and... Vulcan, in Roman mythology, is the son of Jupiter and Juno, and husband of Maia and Venus. ...

• In Hindu mythology, the god Indra is known as the god of lightning. His main weapon is the thunderbolt (Vajra).
• 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; it has entered modern heraldry and military iconography, typically depicted as winged and emitting flames. Hindu mythology is a term used by modern scholarship for a large body of Indian literature that details the lives and times of legendary personalities, deities and divine incarnations on earth interspersed with often large sections of philosophical and ethical discourse. ... Indra (Sanskrit: इन्द्र or इंद्र, indra) is the god of weather and war, and lord of Svargaloka in Hinduism. ... Vajrasattva holds the vajra in his right hand and a bell in his left hand. ... Relief of Suppiluliuma II, last known king of the Hittite Empire The Hittites were an ancient people who spoke an Indo-European language, and established a kingdom centered at Hattusa (Hittite URU) in north-central Anatolia from the 18th century BC. In the 14th century BC, the Hittite empire was... The word Hurrian may refer to: An ancient people of the Near East, the Hurrians. ... The word mythology (from the Greek μυολογία mythología, from μυολογείν mythologein to relate myths, from μύος mythos, meaning a narrative, and λόγος logos, meaning speech or argument) literally means the (oral) retelling of myths – stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use the supernatural to interpret natural events and... Teshub was the Hurrian god of sky and storm. ... The bust of Zeus found at Otricoli (Sala Rotonda, Museo Pio-Clementino, Vatican) Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. ... The Statue of Zeus at Olympia Phidias created the 12-m (40-ft) tall statue of Zeus at Olympia about 435 BC. The statue was perhaps the most famous sculpture in Ancient Greece, imagined here in a 16th century engraving Zeus (in Greek: nominative: Zeús, genitive: Diós), is... Polyphemus the Cyclops. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... In Maya mythology, Huracan (one legged) was a wind, storm and fire god and one of the creator deities who participated in all three attempts at creating humanity. ... Norse or Scandinavian mythology comprises the pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian people, including those who settled on Iceland, where the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... For other meanings of Odin, Woden or Wotan see Odin (disambiguation), Woden (disambiguation), Wotan (disambiguation). ... Hunting spear and knife, from Mesa Verde National Park. ... In Norse mythology, Gungnir (also Gungni, Gungner, or Gungrir) was the name of Odins javelin. ... Thors battle against the giants, by Mårten Eskil Winge, 1872 Thor (Old Norse: Þórr) is the red-haired and bearded god of thunder in Norse Mythology and more generally Germanic mythology (Old English: Þunor, Old Dutch and Old High German: Donar, from Proto-Germanic *Þunraz). ... Drawing of an archeological find of a gold plated hammer in silver. ... Native American spirituality includes a number of stories and legends that are mythological. ... In Native American mythology (particularly in the Cherokee tribe) the Ani Hyuntikwalaski (Thunder Beings) are beings that cause lightning fire in a hollow sycamore tree. ... Sycamore is a name applied at various times and places to three very different types of trees, but with somewhat similar leaf forms. ... Heraldry in its most general sense encompasses all matters relating to the duties and responsibilities of officers of arms. ...

See also

• Vajra
• Perkwunos
• Lightningbolt

Vajrasattva holds the vajra in his right hand and a bell in his left hand. ... The name of an Indo-European god of thunder and/or the oak may be reconstructed as *Perkwunos or *Perkunos. ... This page is a candidate to be copied to Wikibooks using the Transwiki process. ...

References

1. ^ Clube V. & Napier B. 1982, The Cosmic Serpent, pg.173ff,